Shloka 29

Balarāma Visits Vraja: Consoling the Gopīs and Dragging the Yamunā

Devanagari script

परं भावं भगवतो भगवन् मामजानतीम् । मोक्तुमर्हसि विश्‍वात्मन् प्रपन्नां भक्तवत्सल ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

paraṁ bhāvaṁ bhagavato bhagavan mām ajānatīm moktum arhasi viśvātman prapannāṁ bhakta-vatsala

Translation

O Bhagavān, ich erkannte Deine höchste Stellung nicht. O Seele des Universums, du Freund der Bhaktas, ich habe mich Dir ergeben; bitte befreie mich.

Synonyms

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular; qualifying भावम्

• भावम्: nature, state
• भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular

• भगवतः: of the Lord
• भगवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive singular ‘of the Lord’

• भगवन्: O Lord
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular ‘me’

• अजानतीम्: (me) not knowing
• अजानतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: शतृ (present active participle) with negation-prefix अ-; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; agreeing with माम् (speaker as feminine) ‘not knowing’

• मोक्तुम्: to free
• मोक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to release/liberate’

• अर्हसि: you should/are able
• अर्हसि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘you are able/ought’

• विश्वात्मन्: O soul of the universe
• विश्वात्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘विश्वस्य आत्मा’

• प्रपन्नाम्: surrendered
• प्रपन्नाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-पद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘surrendered’ (agreeing with माम्)

• भक्तवत्सल: O lover of devotees
• भक्तवत्सल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘भक्तेषु वत्सलः’

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about surrender (prapatti) to Krishna?

This verse shows a devotee taking full refuge in the Lord—admitting limited understanding and begging deliverance—highlighting surrender as a direct path to divine protection and liberation.

Why does the devotee call Krishna 'bhaktavatsala' in this shloka?

Because the Lord is especially affectionate to His devotees; the speaker appeals to that defining quality to request mercy and liberation despite her lack of complete spiritual comprehension.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Cultivate humility, admit what you do not know, and practice heartfelt surrender—seeking guidance through prayer, devotion, and service—trusting that sincere refuge invites divine help.