Shloka 2

Ambikā-vana Śiva-pūjā; Nanda Saved from the Serpent; Śaṅkhacūḍa Slain

Devanagari script

तत्र स्‍नात्वा सरस्वत्यां देवं पशुपतिं विभुम् । आनर्चुरर्हणैर्भक्त्या देवीं च नृपतेऽम्बिकाम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

tatra snātvā sarasvatyāṁ devaṁ paśu-patiṁ vibhum ānarcur arhaṇair bhaktyā devīṁ ca ṇṛpate ’mbikām

Translation

O König, dort angekommen badeten sie in der Sarasvatī und verehrten dann in hingebungsvoller Andacht mit vielfältigen Opfergaben den mächtigen Herrn Paśupati (Śiva) sowie seine Gemahlin, die Göttin Ambikā.

Synonyms

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• snātvā: having bathed
• snātvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √snā (स्ना धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable (अव्ययकृदन्त)

• sarasvatyām: in the (river) Sarasvatī
• sarasvatyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarasvatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• devam: the god
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• paśu-patim: Paśupati (lord of creatures)
• paśu-patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘paśūnāṁ patiḥ’

• vibhum: the all-powerful
• vibhum: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with devam/paśu-patim

• ānarcuḥ: worshipped
• ānarcuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√arc (अर्च् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• arhaṇaiḥ: with offerings (honorific articles)
• arhaṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• devīm: the goddess
• devīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• nṛpate: O king
• nṛpate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• ambikām: Ambikā
• ambikām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to devīm

Characters & Entities

• Śiva (Paśupati)
• Ambikā (Pārvatī/Durgā)
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about bathing in holy rivers like Sarasvatī?

This verse shows devotees first purifying themselves by bathing in Sarasvatī and then engaging in worship—tīrtha-snānā is presented as supportive to devotion and proper worship.

Why is Lord Śiva (Paśupati) worshiped in the Srimad Bhagavatam’s Krishna narratives?

The Bhagavatam depicts worship of Śiva as honorable and devotional—Śiva is revered as a great lord and foremost Vaiṣṇava, and devotees may worship him with bhakti while remaining aligned with the Bhagavatam’s devotion-centered path.

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

Begin spiritual practices with purification and intentionality (cleanliness, prayerful mindset), then offer respectful, sincere devotion—“arhaṇa with bhakti”—to the Divine, keeping worship heartfelt rather than merely formal.