Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 23

Arjuna Marries Subhadrā; Kṛṣṇa Honors Two Devotees in Mithilā (Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva)

Devanagari script

द‍ृष्ट्वा त उत्तम:श्लोकं प्रीत्युत्फुलाननाशया: । कैर्धृताञ्जलिभिर्नेमु: श्रुतपूर्वांस्तथा मुनीन् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā ta uttamaḥ-ślokaṁ prīty-utphulānanāśayāḥ kair dhṛtāñjalibhir nemuḥ śruta-pūrvāṁs tathā munīn

Translation

As soon as the people saw Lord Uttamaḥśloka, their faces and hearts blossomed with affection. Joining their palms above their heads, they bowed down to the Lord and to the sages accompanying Him, whom they had previously only heard about.

Synonyms

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriya (क्रिया/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• uttamaḥ-ślokam: Uttamaśloka (the Lord praised by sublime hymns)
• uttamaḥ-ślokam: Karma (कर्म/Object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + śloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—“उत्तमः श्लोकः यस्य” इति नामरूपेण (epithet of Bhagavān)

• prītyā: with/through love
• prītyā: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• utphula-ānana-āśayāḥ: with blossoming faces and hearts
• utphula-ānana-āśayāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: utphulla (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक) + āśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—“उत्फुल्लम् आननम् आशयश्च येषां ते” (whose faces and hearts were blossoming)

• kaiḥ: with what/which (hands)
• kaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; प्रश्न/अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम

• dhṛta-añjalibhiḥ: with folded hands
• dhṛta-añjalibhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhṛta (कृदन्त; √dhṛ) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“धृताः अञ्जलयः” (folded hands)

• nemuḥ: they bowed
• nemuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• śruta-pūrvān: previously heard-of
• śruta-pūrvān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śruta (कृदन्त; √śru) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; कर्मधारयः—“पूर्वं श्रुताः” (heard of before)

• tathā: also, likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारार्थक/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb: likewise)

• munīn: sages
• munīn: Karma (कर्म/Object of bowing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• munis (sages)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say happens when one gets Krishna’s darshan?

This verse says that seeing Uttamaślokā (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) fills devotees with loving joy—faces blossom, and reverence naturally arises through folded hands and obeisances.

Why did they bow down not only to Krishna but also to the sages?

Because the sages were exalted devotees and spiritual authorities; honoring them alongside the Lord reflects the Bhagavata principle of respecting saintly persons as carriers of divine wisdom.

How can I apply this shloka in modern life?

Seek sacred association and cultivate reverence—offer respectful greetings to devotees and teachers, and approach spiritual experiences with humility, gratitude, and loving attention.