Shloka 8

Akrūra’s Prayers (Akrūra-stuti): The Lord as Cause of Causes, Virāṭ, and the Goal of All Paths

Devanagari script

त्वामेवान्ये शिवोक्तेन मार्गेण शिवरूपिणम् । बह्वाचार्यविभेदेन भगवन्तम् उपासते ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

tvām evānye śivoktena mārgeṇa śiva-rūpiṇam bahv-ācārya-vibhedena bhagavantam upāsate

Translation

وهناك آخرون—يا بهغفان—يعبدونك في صورة شِيفا، سالكين الطريق الذي وصفه شِيفا، وقد فسّره كثير من المعلّمين بوجوه شتّى.

Synonyms

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण-निपात (restrictive particle)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शिव-उक्तेन: spoken by Śiva
• शिव-उक्तेन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वच् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शिवेन उक्तः (spoken by Śiva)

• मार्गेण: by the path
• मार्गेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिव-रूपिणम्: as having the form of Śiva
• शिव-रूपिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शिवस्य रूपं यस्य/शिवरूपः (having Śiva-form)

• बहु-आचार्य-विभेदेन: through many divisions of teachers
• बहु-आचार्य-विभेदेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: आचार्याणां विभेदः (diversity of teachers) + बहु (many)

• भगवन्तम्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; त्वाम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• उपासते: worship/serve
• उपासते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

Purport

The words tvām eva, “You also,” indicate that the path of worshiping Lord Śiva is indirect and therefore inferior. Akrūra himself is following the superior method by directly worshiping Kṛṣṇa, or Viṣṇu, with his prayers.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Śiva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping Lord Shiva in relation to Krishna?

This verse states that those who follow the path taught by Śiva ultimately worship the same Supreme Lord—Śrī Kṛṣṇa—since the Lord may be approached even as appearing in Śiva’s form.

Why do the demigods mention Shiva’s path while praying to Krishna?

To affirm that diverse spiritual lineages and teacher-traditions can still culminate in devotion to the one Supreme Bhagavān, whom they recognize as Kṛṣṇa.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Respect sincere spiritual traditions and teachers, and focus on the shared goal—devoted worship of the Supreme—rather than sectarian conflict over external differences.