Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

नमो भृगुणां पतये द‍ृप्तक्षत्रवनच्छिदे । नमस्ते रघुवर्याय रावणान्तकराय च ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

namo bhṛguṇāṁ pataye dṛpta-kṣatra-vana-cchide namas te raghu-varyāya rāvaṇānta-karāya ca

Translation

Ehrerbietung Dir, Herr der Bhṛgus, der den Wald der überheblichen Kṣatriyas fällte (Paraśurāma); und Ehrerbietung Dir, Śrī Rāma, dem Besten des Raghu-Geschlechts, der Rāvaṇa ein Ende bereitete.

Synonyms

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), salutation particle

• bhṛguṇām: of the Bhṛgus
• bhṛguṇām: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pataye: to the lord
• pataye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• dṛpta-kṣatra-vana-cchide: to the slayer of the forest of arrogant kṣatriyas
• dṛpta-kṣatra-vana-cchide: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛpta + kṣatra + vana + chid (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; compound: तत्पुरुष; kridanta: ‘chid’ (छिद्-धातु) agent noun ‘cchid’ = ‘cutter/slayer’; meaning ‘cutter of the forest of proud kṣatriyas’

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), salutation particle

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• raghu-varyāya: to the best of the Raghu line
• raghu-varyāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu + varya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; compound: तत्पुरुष ‘best (वर्य) among the Raghus’

• rāvaṇa-anta-karāya: to the bringer of Rāvaṇa’s end
• rāvaṇa-anta-karāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāvaṇa + anta + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; compound: तत्पुरुष ‘maker (कर) of the end (अन्त) of Rāvaṇa’

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

Characters & Entities

• Lord Krishna
• Bhṛgu (Bhṛgu dynasty)
• Raghu
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being the source of many avataras like Rama?

In this verse the devas glorify Krishna by addressing Him with titles connected to earlier divine acts—such as being the best of the Raghu line who ended Rāvaṇa—indicating that the same Supreme Lord is praised through His various avatāra-līlās.

Why do the demigods praise Krishna as the destroyer of arrogant kshatriya kings?

They acknowledge the Lord as the protector of dharma who removes oppressive, pride-filled rulers when they become a burden to the world, restoring moral order for the welfare of all beings.

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

By cultivating humility and taking shelter of the Lord through prayer, remembering that divine power ultimately subdues arrogance and protects righteousness.