Shloka 31

Vasudeva and Devakī Glorify Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; The Recovery of Devakī’s Six Sons from Sutala

Devanagari script

यस्यांशांशांशभागेन विश्वोत्पत्तिलयोदया: । भवन्ति किल विश्वात्मंस्तं त्वाद्याहं गतिं गता ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

yasyāṁśāṁśāṁśa-bhāgena viśvotpatti-layodayāḥ bhavanti kila viśvātmaṁs taṁ tvādyāhaṁ gatiṁ gatā

Translation

O Seele des Alls: Durch einen winzigen Bruchteil der Ausdehnung der Ausdehnung Deiner Ausdehnung geschehen Schöpfung, Erhaltung und Auflösung des Universums. Heute nehme ich Zuflucht zu Dir, dem höchsten Herrn.

Synonyms

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धे—‘whose’

• अंश-अंश-अंश-भागेन: by a tiniest fraction of a fraction
• अंश-अंश-अंश-भागेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘अंशस्य अंशस्य अंशस्य भागः’—अत्यन्त-लघु-भागेन (by a fraction of a fraction of a fraction)

• विश्व-उत्पत्ति-लय-उदयाः: the universe’s creation, dissolution, and manifestation
• विश्व-उत्पत्ति-लय-उदयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + लय (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (समाहार/इतरेतर) — ‘उत्पत्तिः लयः उदयः’ (origination, dissolution, manifestation) of the universe

• भवन्ति: occur/come to be
• भवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• किल: indeed
• किल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• विश्व-आत्मन्: O Soul of the universe
• विश्व-आत्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘विश्वस्य आत्मा’

• तम्: that (one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्वा: you
• त्वा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘you’ (enclitic)

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

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

• गतिम्: refuge/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गता: have attained/gone to
• गता: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘(I) have gone/attained’ (predicate agreeing with implied feminine speaker ‘Devakī’)

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains this verse as follows: The Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, Nārāyaṇa, is but one expansion of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Mahā-Viṣṇu, the first creator, is Lord Nārāyaṇa’s expansion. The total material energy emanates from Mahā-Viṣṇu’s glance, and of that total material energy the three modes of nature are divided portions. Thus it is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, acting through His expansions, who generates, sustains and dissolves the universe.

Characters & Entities

• Rukmiṇī
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being the cause of creation, maintenance, and dissolution?

This verse states that even by a minute fraction of the Lord’s expansion, the universe’s creation, preservation, and dissolution occur—affirming Kṛṣṇa as the ultimate source and controller.

Why does Rukmini say she has taken shelter of Krishna in Canto 10 Chapter 85?

Seeing Kṛṣṇa as the original Lord (ādi), the Soul of all beings, she expresses śaraṇāgati—taking Him as her highest refuge beyond all worldly supports.

Practical application of surrender (śaraṇāgati) from this shloka in modern life?

Recognize a higher divine order behind life’s changes and consciously take refuge in Kṛṣṇa through prayer, remembrance, and devotional practice, especially during uncertainty.