Shloka 6

The Syamantaka Jewel: Accusation, Recovery, and Kṛṣṇa’s Marriage to Satyabhāmā

Devanagari script

नारायण नमस्तेऽस्तु शङ्खचक्रगदाधर । दामोदरारविन्दाक्ष गोविन्द यदुनन्दन ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

nārāyaṇa namas te ’stu śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dhara dāmodarāravindākṣa govinda yadu-nandana

Translation

Ehrerbietung sei Dir, o Nārāyaṇa, Träger von Muschel, Diskus und Keule! O Dāmodara mit lotosgleichen Augen, o Govinda, geliebter Yadu-nandana — wir verneigen uns vor Dir.

Synonyms

• nārāyaṇa: O Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th), Singular

• namas: salutations
• namas: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: Salutation particle (नमस्कार-अव्यय), used with dative ‘te’

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th), Singular; enclitic pronoun

• astu: may it be
• astu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd Person, Singular

• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dhara: O bearer of conch, discus, and mace
• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dhara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘bearer of conch, discus, and mace’

• dāmodara-aravinda-akṣa: O Dāmodara, lotus-eyed one
• dāmodara-aravinda-akṣa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāmodara (प्रातिपदिक) + aravinda (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th), Singular; bahuvrīhi: ‘whose eyes are like lotuses’; also addressed as Dāmodara

• govinda: O Govinda
• govinda: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th), Singular

• yadu-nandana: O joy of the Yadus
• yadu-nandana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yadu (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘delighter/son of the Yadus’

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa
• Dāmodara
• Govinda
• Yadunandana (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering prayers to Krishna by His names?

This verse shows a devotee approaching Kṛṣṇa through heartfelt stuti, invoking His divine names and attributes (Nārāyaṇa, Dāmodara, Govinda) as a direct act of bhakti and surrender.

Why did Satrājit offer this prayer to Krishna in Canto 10 Chapter 56?

In the Syamantaka-jewel narrative, Satrājit seeks Kṛṣṇa’s favor and protection; he addresses Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord, praising His divine form and weapons to express reverence and submission.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Use Kṛṣṇa’s names and qualities in daily prayer—offering respect, remembering His protection and compassion—especially when seeking clarity, forgiveness, or guidance.