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Shloka 21

Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent

Prelude to Prahlāda’s History

एतद्भ्राम्यति मे बुद्धिर्दीपार्चिरिव वायुना । ब्रूह्येतदद्भ‍ुततमं भगवान्ह्यत्र कारणम् ॥ २१ ॥

etad bhrāmyati me buddhir dīpārcir iva vāyunā brūhy etad adbhutatamaṁ bhagavān hy atra kāraṇam

এই বিষয়টো নিঃসন্দেহে অতি আশ্চৰ্য। বতাহত দীপশিখা যেনেকৈ কঁপে, তেনেকৈ মোৰ বুদ্ধি বিচলিত হৈছে। হে নাৰদ মুনি, আপুনি সৰ্বজ্ঞ; দয়া কৰি এই আশ্চৰ্য ঘটনাৰ কাৰণ কওক।

etatthis
etat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular
bhrāmyatiwanders / is confused
bhrāmyati:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhram (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd person, Singular
memy
me:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormGenitive (6th), Singular; enclitic
buddhiḥintellect
buddhiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
dīpārciḥ(like) a lamp-flame
dīpārciḥ:
Upamāna (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootdīpa (प्रातिपदिक) + arciṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa: ‘lamp-flame’; Feminine, Nominative, Singular
ivalike
iva:
Upamādyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (अव्यय)
FormComparative particle (उपमा-निपात)
vāyunāby the wind
vāyunā:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootvāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular
brūhitell (me)
brūhi:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbrū (धातु)
FormImperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular
etatthis
etat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
adbhutatamammost wonderful
adbhutatamam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootadbhuta-tama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular; superlative (तमप्) agreeing with ‘etat’
bhagavānthe Lord
bhagavān:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
hiindeed
hi:
Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
FormEmphatic particle (निपात)
atrahere / in this matter
atra:
Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatra (अव्यय)
FormAdverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)
kāraṇamthe cause
kāraṇam:
Pradhāna (प्रधान/विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootkāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular; predicate nominative

The śāstras enjoin, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet: when one is perplexed by the difficult problems of life, to solve them one must approach a guru like Nārada or his representative in the disciplic succession. Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira therefore requested Nārada to explain the cause for such a wonderful event.

K
King Parikshit
S
Shukadeva Gosvami
B
Bhagavan (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

This verse shows that even sincere seekers can feel their intelligence shaken when divine arrangements seem puzzling, and the remedy is to inquire and hear the explanation with faith that Bhagavan is the ultimate cause.

In Canto 7, Parikshit is trying to understand an astonishing point about the Lord’s dealings and justice; he admits confusion and requests Shukadeva to clarify how the Supreme Lord is the true cause behind what appears contradictory.

Acknowledge confusion without losing faith, seek guidance from authentic scripture and teachers, and remember that deeper causes may be beyond immediate perception—steadiness comes through sincere inquiry and devotional hearing.