Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 45

The Slaying of Narakāsura (Bhaumāsura), Rescue of the Princesses, and the Pārijāta Episode Begins

Devanagari script

प्रत्युद्गमासनवरार्हणपादशौच- ताम्बूलविश्रमणवीजनगन्धमाल्यै: । केशप्रसारशयनस्‍नपनोपहार्यै- र्दासीशता अपि विभोर्विदधु: स्म दास्यम् ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

pratyudgamāsana-varārhaṇa-pada-śauca- tāmbūla-viśramaṇa-vījana-gandha-mālyaiḥ keśa-prasāra-śayana-snapanopahāryaiḥ dāsī-śatā api vibhor vidadhuḥ sma dāsyam

Translation

Although the Supreme Lord’s queens each had hundreds of maidservants, they chose to personally serve the Lord by approaching Him humbly, offering Him a seat, worshiping Him with excellent paraphernalia, bathing and massaging His feet, giving Him pān to chew, fanning Him, anointing Him with fragrant sandalwood paste, adorning Him with flower garlands, dressing His hair, arranging His bed, bathing Him, and presenting Him with various gifts.

Synonyms

• प्रत्युद्गम-आसन-वर-अर्हण-पाद-शौच-ताम्बूल-विश्रमण-वीजन-गन्ध-माल्यैः: with welcoming, seats, excellent worship, foot-washing, betel, rest, fanning, perfumes, and garlands
• प्रत्युद्गम-आसन-वर-अर्हण-पाद-शौच-ताम्बूल-विश्रमण-वीजन-गन्ध-माल्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्युद्गम (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्हण (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + शौच (प्रातिपदिक) + ताम्बूल (प्रातिपदिक) + विश्रमण (प्रातिपदिक) + वीजन (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः बहुपद-द्वन्द्वः (various services/items); करण (means of service)

• केश-प्रसार-शयन-स्नपन-उपहार्यैः: with hair-arranging, bedding, bathing, and offerings
• केश-प्रसार-शयन-स्नपन-उपहार्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसार (प्रातिपदिक) + शयन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नपन (प्रातिपदिक) + उपहार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (hair-arranging, bed, bathing, offerings); करण

• दासी-शताः: hundreds of maidservants
• दासी-शताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दासी (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्विगुः (शतं दास्यः = a hundred maidservants)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also/even)

• विभोः: of the Lord
• विभोः: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• विदधुः: performed/arranged
• विदधुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; धातुः धा (to do/arrange) with उपसर्ग वि-

• स्म: indeed/then (in past narration)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/कालसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्म-निपात (past narrative particle)

• दास्यम्: service
• दास्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

Purport

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Fifty-ninth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Killing of the Demon Naraka.”

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about serving Krishna with personal attendance (seva)?

This verse describes intimate, respectful service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa—welcoming Him, offering a seat, washing His feet, fanning Him, adorning Him, and bringing gifts—showing that bhakti is expressed through loving, practical service.

Who is being described as serving the Lord in this shloka?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes many maidservants (dāsī-śatāḥ) engaged in serving the Supreme Lord, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, through various forms of attentive household and personal service.

How can I apply the mood of dāsyam (servitorship) in modern life?

Adopt a service attitude in daily devotion—offer time and care in worship, keep sacred spaces clean, assist devotees, and perform your duties as an offering to Kṛṣṇa with attentiveness and humility.