Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 28

Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इति तेषां महाराज सुराणामुपतिष्ठताम् । प्रतीच्यां दिश्यभूदावि: शङ्खचक्रगदाधर: ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca iti teṣāṁ mahārāja surāṇām upatiṣṭhatām pratīcyāṁ diśy abhūd āviḥ śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharaḥ

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, when all the demigods offered Him their prayers, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari, carrying His weapons, the conchshell, disc and club, appeared first within their hearts and then before them.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय-समास: śrī + śuka

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mahā-rāja: O great king
• mahā-rāja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: mahā + rāja

• surāṇām: of the gods
• surāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• upatiṣṭhatām: while (they) were attending/standing near
• upatiṣṭhatām: Karta (कर्ता/agent—those who were standing by)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Present participle, active (वर्तमान-कृदन्त, शतृ), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); from upa + √sthā; used as adjectival to surāṇām/teṣām

• pratīcyām: in the western
• pratīcyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratīcī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally with diśi

• diśi: direction
• diśi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhūt: appeared/was
• abhūt: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• āviḥ: manifest, openly
• āviḥ: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āviḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण)

• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharaḥ: the bearer of conch, discus, and mace (Viṣṇu)
• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha + cakra + gadā + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (upapada): 'bearer of conch, discus, and mace'

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit
• Surāḥ (Demigods)
• Lord Viṣṇu (Śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dhara)

FAQs

Why does Lord Vishnu appear as Śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dhara in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse highlights Viṣṇu’s unmistakable divine identity and protective role—His conch, disc, and mace signify sovereignty, preservation of dharma, and the power to remove obstacles for those who take shelter.

Who is speaking in Bhagavatam 6.9.28 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, describing how the demigods, standing in reverence, witnessed Lord Viṣṇu manifest before them.

How can a devotee apply the teaching of Bhagavatam 6.9.28 in modern life?

When facing fear or uncertainty, cultivate steady devotional remembrance and humility—this verse reinforces that sincere dependence on the Lord invites clarity, protection, and guidance at the right time.