Shloka 6

Hari’s Special Mercy, Śiva’s Quick Boons, and the Deliverance from Vṛkāsura

Devanagari script

निवृत्तेष्वश्वमेधेषु राजा युष्मत्पितामह: । श‍ृण्वन् भगवतो धर्मानपृच्छदिदमच्युतम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

nivṛtteṣv aśva-medheṣu rājā yuṣmat-pitāmahaḥ śṛṇvan bhagavato dharmān apṛcchad idam acyutam

Translation

Nachdem euer Großvater, König Yudhiṣṭhira, die Aśvamedha-Opfer vollendet hatte, stellte er, während er den Bhagavān die Grundsätze des Dharma darlegen hörte, dem Herrn Acyuta genau diese Frage.

Synonyms

• निवृत्तेषु: when (they) had ended
• निवृत्तेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निवृत्त (कृदन्त; √वृत्/वृत्त् + नि)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) — ‘having ceased/ended’

• अश्वमेधेषु: in the Aśvamedha sacrifices
• अश्वमेधेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: अश्वस्य मेधः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular), पुल्लिङ्ग

• युष्मत्-पितामहः: your grandfather
• युष्मत्-पितामहः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: युष्माकं पितामहः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• शृण्वन्: listening
• शृण्वन्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शृण्वत् (कृदन्त; √श्रु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; क्रियाविशेषणभावे — ‘while listening’

• भगवतः: of the Lord
• भगवतः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• धर्मान्: duties/teachings
• धर्मान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• अपृच्छत्: asked
• अपृच्छत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (the infallible Lord)
• अच्युतम्: सम्प्रदान/आलम्बन (Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; संबोधनार्थे नाम (epithet used as object of asking)

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about hearing the Lord’s teachings on dharma?

This verse shows that attentive hearing of Bhagavān’s dharma naturally awakens sincere questions and deeper spiritual inquiry directed to Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta).

Why did the king ask Acyuta (Krishna) questions after the Aśvamedha sacrifices?

After completing major royal duties, the king—absorbed in hearing the Lord’s dharma—turned to Kṛṣṇa Himself for clarity, showing that true resolution about dharma comes from the Supreme Lord.

How can I apply this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

Finish your responsibilities, then prioritize śravaṇa (hearing sacred teachings) and bring your real doubts to authentic spiritual sources—centering your decisions on devotion and dharma.