Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 2

Kṛṣṇa’s Impending Departure; Uddhava’s Surrender; King Yadu and the Avadhūta’s Twenty-Four Gurus

Beginnings

Devanagari script

मया निष्पादितं ह्यत्र देवकार्यमशेषत: । यदर्थमवतीर्णोऽहमंशेन ब्रह्मणार्थित: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

mayā niṣpāditaṁ hy atra deva-kāryam aśeṣataḥ yad-artham avatīrṇo ’ham aṁśena brahmaṇārthitaḥ

Translation

Answering the prayer of Lord Brahmā, I descended within this world along with My plenary portion, Lord Baladeva, and performed various activities on behalf of the demigods. I have now completed My mission here.

Synonyms

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, तृतीया (3rd case)

• निष्पादितम्: accomplished
• निष्पादितम्: Kriya (क्रिया) (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस् + √पद्/√पाद् (धातु; ‘to accomplish/bring about’)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा/द्वितीया; here predicate: ‘has been accomplished’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: here)

• देवकार्यम्: the task of the gods
• देवकार्यम्: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देवानां कार्यम्, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा

• अशेषतः: entirely
• अशेषतः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेषतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: completely, without remainder)

• यदर्थम्: for which purpose
• यदर्थम्: Hetu (हेतु/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (relative): यस्य अर्थः/यदर्थम्, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (2nd case) (adverbial: ‘for which purpose’)

• अवतीर्णः: having descended
• अवतीर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + √तॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past active participle in sense of PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; ‘descended/incarnated’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, प्रथमा

• अंशेन: by a portion/partial expansion
• अंशेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (3rd case)

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Kartr (कर्ता) (agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (3rd case)

• अर्थितः: requested
• अर्थितः: Karta (कर्ता) (of passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; ‘requested/entreated’

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Brahmā
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about why Krishna descends (avatara purpose)?

In this verse, Kṛṣṇa states He descended (in a partial expansion) at Brahmā’s request to complete the divine mission—restoring the divine order and fulfilling the gods’ purpose.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

Kṛṣṇa is preparing Uddhava for His imminent departure from the world, indicating that His assigned divine work has been completed and that the next phase of instruction and renunciation must follow.

Practical application of Krishna’s “mission accomplished” message in modern life?

Do your duty wholeheartedly and completely, then detach from results—recognizing when a phase of responsibility is finished and turning inward toward spiritual practice and devotion.