Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 1

Nābhi’s Sacrifice and Lord Viṣṇu’s Promise to Appear as a Son (Ṛṣabhadeva’s Advent Prelude)

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच नाभिरपत्यकामोऽप्रजया मेरुदेव्या भगवन्तं यज्ञपुरुषमवहितात्मायजत ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca nābhir apatya-kāmo ’prajayā merudevyā bhagavantaṁ yajña-puruṣam avahitātmāyajata.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued to speak: Mahārāja Nābhi, the son of Āgnīdhra, wished to have sons, and therefore he attentively began to offer prayers and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, the master and enjoyer of all sacrifices. Mahārāja Nābhi’s wife, Merudevī, who had not given birth to any children at that time, also worshiped Lord Viṣṇu along with her husband.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular) — कर्मधारय: ‘श्रीमान् शुकः’ (honorific proper name)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (parasmaipada)

• नाभिः: Nābhi
• नाभिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• अपत्य-कामः: desiring offspring
• अपत्य-कामः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular) — तत्पुरुष: ‘अपत्यस्य कामः’ = ‘desiring offspring’

• अप्रजया: with (his) childless (wife)
• अप्रजया: सह/साधन (Instrument/association; with his childless wife)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (singular) — नञ्-समास/नकारार्थ (privative): ‘without children’

• मेरुदेव्या: with Merudevī
• मेरुदेव्या: सह/साधन (Instrument/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरुदेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (singular)

• भगवन्तम्: the Lord
• भगवन्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (singular)

• यज्ञ-पुरुषम्: Yajña-puruṣa (Lord of sacrifice)
• यज्ञ-पुरुषम्: कर्म (Karma/Object-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (singular) — तत्पुरुष: ‘यज्ञस्य पुरुषः’ (the personification/presiding deity of sacrifice)

• अवहित-आत्मा: with attentive mind
• अवहित-आत्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवहित (कृदन्त, क्त; प्रातिपदिकवत्) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular) — बहुव्रीहि: ‘अवहितः आत्मा यस्य सः’ = ‘one whose mind is attentive’

• अयजत: worshipped/sacrificed to
• अयजत: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), आत्मनेपद (ātmanepada)

Characters & Entities

• King Nābhi
• Merudevī
• Yajña-puruṣa (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping Yajña-puruṣa for blessings?

This verse shows King Nābhi worshiping the Supreme Lord as Yajña-puruṣa with full concentration, indicating that sincere, attentive devotion to the Lord is the true foundation of successful worship and receiving divine blessings.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe King Nābhi’s sacrifice in Canto 5 Chapter 3?

Śukadeva introduces the cause leading to the Lord’s manifestation in Nābhi’s dynasty—Nābhi’s focused worship sets the narrative stage for the appearance of Ṛṣabhadeva.

How can I apply the lesson of ‘avahita-ātmā’ (attentive mind) in modern devotional life?

Practice devotion with single-pointed attention—whether in prayer, mantra, or service—reducing distraction and making worship intentional rather than mechanical.