Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 33

Vasudeva and Devakī Glorify Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; The Recovery of Devakī’s Six Sons from Sutala

Devanagari script

चिरान्मृतसुतादाने गुरुणा किल चोदितौ । आनिन्यथु: पितृस्थानाद् गुरवे गुरुदक्षिणाम् ॥ ३२ ॥ तथा मे कुरुतं कामं युवां योगेश्वरेश्वरौ । भोजराजहतान् पुत्रान् कामये द्रष्टुमाहृतान् ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

cirān mṛta-sutādāne guruṇā kila coditau āninyathuḥ pitṛ-sthānād gurave guru-dakṣiṇām

Translation

It is said that when Your spiritual master ordered You to retrieve his long-dead son, You brought him back from the forefathers’ abode as a token of remuneration for Your guru’s mercy. Please fulfill my desire in the same way, O supreme masters of all yoga masters. Please bring back my sons who were killed by the King of Bhoja, so that I may see them once again.

Synonyms

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb) ‘thus/in the same way’

• मे: for me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी—‘for me’

• कुरुतम्: do (you two)
• कुरुतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• कामम्: a wish
• कामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इच्छित-वस्तु (desired thing)

• युवाम्: you two
• युवाम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• योगेश्वर-ईश्वरौ: O (you two) Lords of the lords of yoga
• योगेश्वर-ईश्वरौ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘योगेश्वराणाम् ईश्वरौ’ (vocative sense implied though form is nominative dual used in address)

• भोज-राज-हतान्: killed by the Bhoja king
• भोज-राज-हतान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भोज (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + हत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √हन्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘भोजराजेन हताः’ (killed by the Bhoja king)

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कामये: I desire
• कामये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम् (धातु) (इच्छार्थे)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमुन्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-रूप (infinitive) ‘to see’

• आहृतान्: brought (back)
• आहृतान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृ (धातु) with आ- (उपसर्ग) → आहृत (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘brought (here)’; पुत्रान् इति विशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• Sāndīpani Muni
• Yamarāja (Dharmarāja)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about guru-dakṣiṇā (offering to the teacher)?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma fulfilling their guru’s request as guru-dakṣiṇā, teaching that sincere service to the spiritual master is sacred and central to dharma and bhakti.

Why did Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma bring back their guru’s dead son?

Because Sāndīpani Muni instructed Them to do so as his desired guru-dakṣiṇā, and They honored his wish by retrieving the boy from Yama’s abode.

How can a devotee apply the lesson of this verse in modern life?

By respecting teachers and mentors, serving with integrity, keeping promises, and placing dharma-filled gratitude above personal convenience.