Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 25

Nārada Sees Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Yoga-māyā in the Palaces of the Queens

Dvāra-kā-līlā

Devanagari script

क्व‍ापि सन्ध्यामुपासीनं जपन्तं ब्रह्म वाग्यतम् । एकत्र चासिचर्माभ्यां चरन्तमसिवर्त्मसु ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

kvāpi sandhyām upāsīnaṁ japantaṁ brahma vāg-yatam ekatra cāsi-carmābhyāṁ carantam asi-vartmasu

Translation

Somewhere Lord Kṛṣṇa was observing the rituals for worship at sunset by refraining from speech and quietly chanting the Gāyatrī mantra, and elsewhere He was moving about with sword and shield in the areas set aside for sword practice.

Synonyms

• क्वापि: somewhere
• क्वापि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• सन्ध्याम्: the twilight prayer (sandhyā)
• सन्ध्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उपासीनम्: (him) seated in worship
• उपासीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (धातु) → उपासीन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle with resultant state) ‘उपविष्ट/उपासित’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• जपन्तम्: (him) chanting
• जपन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु) → जपत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म: the Veda/sacred syllable (brahman)
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; जपस्य कर्म

• वाक्-यतम्: restrained in speech
• वाक्-यतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + यत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वाचः यतः’ (speech-restrained); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एकत्र: in one place
• एकत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘एकस्मिन् स्थाने’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• असि-चर्माभ्याम्: with sword and shield/leather (armor)
• असि-चर्माभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक) + चर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘असिः च चर्म च’; नपुंसक/पुं-समाहारद्वन्द्व-प्रायः; तृतीया (3rd), द्विवचन

• चरन्तम्: (him) moving/roaming
• चरन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) → चरत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• असि-वर्त्मसु: in the paths/techniques of swordplay
• असि-वर्त्मसु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘असेः वर्त्म’ (path/track of the sword = sword-practice); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

Purport

According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the words sandhyām upāsīnam indicate sunset rituals, whereas the words asi-carmābhyāṁ carantam refer to sword practice, which takes place at dawn.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Sandhya worship and japa?

This verse shows Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself observing sandhyā-upāsanā and chanting sacred mantras with controlled speech, establishing that daily worship and remembrance of the Divine are integral to dharma.

Why is Krishna shown doing different activities at the same time in Dvārakā?

In this chapter, visitors witness astonishing scenes in Dvārakā: by His divine potency, Kṛṣṇa expands and performs varied royal and spiritual duties simultaneously, revealing His supreme, unlimited nature.

Practical application of disciplined speech and daily practice in modern life?

Adopt a fixed daily time for prayer/meditation (like sandhyā) and cultivate restraint in speech; steady inner practice can coexist with active responsibilities, just as Kṛṣṇa models spiritual focus amid worldly duties.