Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 12

Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance

Devanagari script

कृच्छ्रात्संस्तभ्य च मन: प्रेमविह्वलित: सुधी: । शशंस निर्व्यलीकेन भावेनेशं प्रजापति: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

kṛcchrāt saṁstabhya ca manaḥ prema-vihvalitaḥ sudhīḥ śaśaṁsa nirvyalīkena bhāveneśaṁ prajāpatiḥ

Translation

In diesem Augenblick, obgleich von Liebe und Zuneigung erschüttert, beruhigte der verständige Dakṣa mit großer Anstrengung seinen Geist, zügelte seine Regungen und begann in reiner, unverstellter Bewusstheit den Herrn Śiva zu preisen.

Synonyms

• कृच्छ्रात्: with difficulty
• कृच्छ्रात्: हेतु/अपादान (Hetu/Apādāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे—‘with difficulty’ (idiomatic ablative)

• संस्तभ्य: having steadied
• संस्तभ्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तम्भ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having restrained/steadied’

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

• मनः: mind
• मनः: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रेम-विह्वलितः: overwhelmed by affection
• प्रेम-विह्वलितः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Kartu-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेमन् + विह्वलित (विह्वल्/विह्वलय् धातु-भाव, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—प्रेम्णा विह्वलितः (agitated by love)

• सुधीः: the wise one
• सुधीः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शशंस: praised, extolled
• शशंस: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• निर्व्यलीकेन: with guilelessness, sincerely
• निर्व्यलीकेन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्व्यलीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘भावेन’)

• भावेन: with feeling, disposition
• भावेन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• ईशम्: the Lord (Śiva)
• ईशम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati (Dakṣa)
• प्रजापतिः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣa (Prajāpati)
• Īśa (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about sincere prayer without hypocrisy?

This verse highlights that true praise of the Lord is “nirvyalīka”—free from deceit—arising from genuine inner feeling (bhāva), not mere ritual or ego.

Why did Daksha (Prajapati) begin praising the Lord at this point in the story?

After the turmoil surrounding Dakṣa’s sacrifice, his heart softens; overwhelmed by devotion, he restrains his mind and offers honest glorification, signaling a shift from pride to submission.

Practical application of sincerity (nirvyalīka-bhāva) in modern life?

Approach prayer and spiritual practice with honesty—admit faults, drop pretension, and cultivate heartfelt gratitude—because inner sincerity is valued more than external display.