Shloka 39

Kṛṣṇa Visits Indraprastha; Kuntī’s Remembrance; Kālindī and Further Marriages

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच तमाह भगवान् हृष्ट: कृतासनपरिग्रह: । मेघगम्भीरया वाचा सस्मितं कुरुनन्दन ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca tam āha bhagavān hṛṣṭaḥ kṛtāsana-parigrahaḥ megha-gambhīrayā vācā sa-smitaṁ kuru-nandana

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī sprach: O lieber Nachkomme der Kuru, der Höchste Herr war erfreut; nachdem Er einen bequemen Sitz angenommen hatte, lächelte Er und redete den König mit einer Stimme an, so tief wie das Grollen einer Wolke.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; honorific karmadhāraya: ‘śrīmān śukaḥ’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (acc), Ekavacana

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• hṛṣṭaḥ: delighted
• hṛṣṭaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛṣ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kta-participle, Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of bhagavān

• kṛta-āsana-parigrahaḥ: having accepted a seat
• kṛta-āsana-parigrahaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta + āsana + parigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘kṛtaḥ āsana-parigrahaḥ’ = one who has taken/accepted a seat

• megha-gambhīrayā: with a cloud-deep (voice)
• megha-gambhīrayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: megha + gambhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (instr), Ekavacana; agrees with vācā; karmadhāraya: ‘megha-iva gambhīrā’

• vācā: with (his) speech/voice
• vācā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (instr), Ekavacana

• sa-smitaṁ: smilingly / with a smile
• sa-smitaṁ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (सहित) + smita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; accusative neuter singular as adverb: ‘with a smile’

• kuru-nandana: O descendant/delight of the Kurus
• kuru-nandana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuru + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Sambodhana (vocative), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘kurūṇāṁ nandanaḥ’

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s divine voice (megha-gambhīra vācā)?

This verse describes the Lord speaking with a voice deep like thunderclouds, highlighting the majesty and sweetness of His divine speech.

Why did Krishna first offer a seat before speaking?

The verse notes that the Lord arranged a seat and then spoke, showing His respectful, compassionate etiquette even while being the Supreme Lord.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from Krishna’s smiling, respectful manner of speaking?

Devotees can practice calm, respectful communication—offering honor and kindness first—so that truth is spoken with compassion rather than harshness.