Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 23

Inauspicious Omens and Arjuna’s Return from Dvārakā

Devanagari script

तं पादयोर्निपतितमयथापूर्वमातुरम् । अधोवदनमब्बिन्दून् सृजन्तं नयनाब्जयो: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ pādayor nipatitam ayathā-pūrvam āturam adho-vadanam ab-bindūn sṛjantaṁ nayanābjayoḥ

Translation

When he bowed at his feet, the King saw that his dejection was unprecedented. His head was down, and tears glided from his lotus eyes.

Synonyms

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• pādayoḥ: at the feet (of) / of the two feet
• pādayoḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (पाद प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• nipatitam: fallen down
• nipatitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + pat (नि-पत् धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ayathā-pūrvam: not as before
• ayathā-pūrvam: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: a-yathā (अयथा अव्यय) + pūrva (पूर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास/अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial: 'not as before')

• āturam: distressed
• āturam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātura (आतुर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• adho-vadanam: with face lowered
• adho-vadanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhas (अधस् अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (वदन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अव्यय-पूर्वपद: 'अधो' + 'वदन' = face down), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ap-bindūn: drops of water (tears)
• ap-bindūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (अप्/आप् 'जल' प्रातिपदिक) + bindu (बिन्दु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('अपां बिन्दवः' = drops of water/tears), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sṛjantam: shedding/letting out
• sṛjantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (सृज् धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• nayana-abjayoḥ: from the two lotus-eyes
• nayana-abjayoḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nayana (नयन प्रातिपदिक) + abja (अब्ज प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय-प्रायः: 'नयनानि अब्जानि' = lotus-like eyes), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन (Dual)

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Yudhishthira

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 1.14.23 describe about Arjuna’s condition?

It depicts Arjuna collapsing at Yudhishthira’s feet, unusually overwhelmed, downcast, and shedding tears—showing intense grief and separation.

Why was Arjuna weeping when he came before Yudhishthira in Canto 1 Chapter 14?

Because he had encountered a devastating change connected with Krishna’s disappearance, and the shock of separation left him unable to speak normally.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

It teaches that genuine devotion includes deep feeling—recognizing one’s dependence on Krishna and turning to dharmic guidance in times of loss and confusion.