Shloka 2

Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent

Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear

Devanagari script

यदोश्च धर्मशीलस्य नितरां मुनिसत्तम । तत्रांशेनावतीर्णस्य विष्णोर्वीर्याणि शंस न: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

yadoś ca dharma-śīlasya nitarāṁ muni-sattama tatrāṁśenāvatīrṇasya viṣṇor vīryāṇi śaṁsa naḥ

Translation

يا أفضلَ الحكماء، لقد وصفتَ أيضًا نسلَ يدو شديدَ التمسّك بالدارما. فهلاّ تفضّلتَ الآن بأن تروي لنا الأعمال المجيدة العجيبة لبهغوان فيشنو—شري كريشنا—الذي نزل في تلك السلالة مع بالاديفا، امتداده الكامل؟

Synonyms

• yadoḥ: of Yadu
• yadoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of Yadu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yadu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dharma-śīlasya: of the righteous-natured (one)
• dharma-śīlasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier of yadoḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘धर्मे शीलं यस्य’ (righteous-natured)

• nitarām: fully/especially
• nitarām: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitarām (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• muni-sattama: O best of sages
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मुनीनां सत्तमः’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/therein)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• aṁśena: by a portion
• aṁśena: Karaṇa (करण/means; ‘in part’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṁśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• avatīrṇasya: of (him) who descended
• avatīrṇasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier of viṣṇoḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avatīrṇa (ava+ tṝ/ tṛ धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/of Viṣṇu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vīryāṇi: heroic deeds/powers
• vīryāṇi: Karma (कर्म/object of śaṁsa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• śaṁsa: tell/praise
• śaṁsa: Kriyā (क्रिया/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śaṁs (शंस् धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• naḥ: to us/for us
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-रूप (Genitive/Dative enclitic), बहुवचन; here दत्ते/प्रयोजनार्थे चतुर्थी (for us)

Purport

The Brahma-saṁhitā (5.1) explains that Kṛṣṇa is the origin of the viṣṇu-tattva.

Characters & Entities

• Yadu
• Vishnu

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Vishnu descending in the Yadu dynasty?

This verse requests the narration of Viṣṇu’s divine exploits, noting that He descended by His partial expansion within the supremely dharmic Yadu dynasty.

Why did Suta Goswami say this to the sages at Naimisharanya?

In the opening of Canto 10, Suta continues the Bhagavatam narration by urging the central theme—Krishna/Viṣṇu’s avatāra and deeds—since the sages are eager to hear Krishna-kathā for spiritual upliftment.

How can I apply the message of this shloka in modern life?

Seek and regularly hear authentic narrations of the Lord’s deeds, and cultivate dharma in one’s own life—since divine stories strengthen faith, clarity, and righteous living.