Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 29
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana
नमस्ते वासुदेवाय नम: सङ्कर्षणाय च । प्रद्युम्नायानिरुद्धाय तुभ्यं भगवते नम: ॥ २९ ॥ नारायणाय ऋषये पुरुषाय महात्मने । विश्वेश्वराय विश्वाय सर्वभूतात्मने नम: ॥ ३० ॥
namas te vāsudevāya namaḥ saṅkarṣaṇāya ca pradyumnāyāniruddhāya tubhyaṁ bhagavate namaḥ
“Obeisances to You, O Supreme Lord Vāsudeva, and to Your forms of Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. O Supreme Personality of Godhead, all obeisances unto You. O Lord Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, O creator of the universe, best of personalities, master of this cosmos and original form of the universe, O Supersoul of all created entities, all homage unto You.”
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that although Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared at the end of Dvāpara-yuga, great sages chanted this verse from the beginning of that age in expectation of His appearance.
FAQs
They are the Lord’s four principal expansions (catur-vyūha), worshiped as the Supreme Bhagavān’s divine forms, invoked here through direct salutations.
While instructing King Nimi on devotion and the Lord’s supremacy, the sages begin with stuti—humble obeisances that establish bhakti as the foundation of their teaching.
Begin worship, study, or meditation by offering respectful namaskāra to the Lord—cultivating humility, remembrance, and devotion before any spiritual activity.