Shloka 48

Kṛṣṇa Enters Mathurā: City Splendor, Devotees’ Reception, and the Washerman’s Fate

Devanagari script

तावाज्ञापयतं भृत्यं किमहं करवाणि वाम् । पुंसोऽत्यनुग्रहो ह्येष भवद्भ‍िर्यन्नियुज्यते ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

tāv ajñāpayataṁ bhṛtyaṁ kim ahaṁ karavāṇi vām puṁso ’ty-anugraho hy eṣa bhavadbhir yan niyujyate

Translation

Bitte gebietet mir, Eurem Diener: Was soll ich für Euch tun? Von Euch zu irgendeinem Dienst berufen zu werden, ist wahrlich ein großer Segen für jeden Menschen.

Synonyms

• तौ: you two
• तौ: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा (Vocative/Nominative), द्विवचन; here as address ‘you two’

• आज्ञापयतम्: please command
• आज्ञापयतम्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• भृत्यम्: servant
• भृत्यम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: कर्म (Interrogative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• करवाणि: should I do
• करवाणि: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वाम्: for you two
• वाम्: सम्प्रदान
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), द्विवचन; ‘for you two’

• पुंसः: of a man/person
• पुंसः: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस्/पुम्स् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अति-अनुग्रहः: a great favor
• अति-अनुग्रहः: कर्ता/विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/उपसर्गपूर्वक (‘very great favor’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• एषः: this
• एषः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक (demonstrative)

• भवद्भिः: by you (honored ones)
• भवद्भिः: करण/कर्तृ (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; आदरार्थ (honorific ‘by you’)

• यत्: that which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative connector)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• नियुज्यते: is engaged/appointed
• नियुज्यते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-युज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive sense)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say is the greatest mercy for a person?

This verse says the greatest favor is to be engaged in service by saintly, exalted devotees—because service awakens devotion and brings one close to the Lord.

Why did the florist speak this way to Krishna and Balarama in Canto 10 Chapter 41?

After meeting Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma in Mathurā, the florist expresses humility and devotion, asking how he can serve them, considering service itself the highest blessing.

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

Adopt a service attitude—seek opportunities to serve God and His devotees (through temple service, charity, sincere help, and spiritual practice), seeing service as mercy rather than burden.