Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 72

Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage

Devanagari script

अथ ह भगवंस्तव चरणनलिनयुगलं त्रिभुवनगुरुभिरभिवन्दितमहमयातयामयजुष्काम उपसरामीति ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

atha ha bhagavaṁs tava caraṇa-nalina-yugalaṁ tri-bhuvana-gurubhir abhivanditam aham ayāta-yāma-yajuṣ-kāma upasarāmīti.

Translation

Darum, o Herr, nähere ich mich betend Deinen Lotosfüßen, die von den geistigen Lehrern der drei Welten verehrt werden, weil ich von Dir Yajur-Mantras empfangen möchte, die sonst niemand kennt; gewähre sie mir aus Gnade.

Synonyms

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Discourse particle (अथ-निपात)

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

• bhagavan: O Lord
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• caraṇa-nalina-yugalam: pair of lotus-feet
• caraṇa-nalina-yugalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + nalina (प्रातिपदिक) + yugala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tri-bhuvana-gurubhiḥ: by the teachers of the three worlds
• tri-bhuvana-gurubhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuvana (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• abhivanditam: saluted, revered
• abhivanditam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi + √vand (वन्द्, धातु) → vandita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with ‘yugalam’

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ayāta-yāma-yajuṣ-kāmaḥ: desirous of the ayāta-yāma Yajus (unfatiguing Yajur-mantras)
• ayāta-yāma-yajuṣ-kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ayāta-yāma (प्रातिपदिक; ‘not requiring travel/effort’ as epithet of a yajus) + yajuṣ (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); bahu-member determinative compound qualifying ‘aham’

• upasarāmi: I approach
• upasarāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + √sṛ (सृ, धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by taking shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet?

This verse portrays humble surrender—approaching the Lord as the ultimate refuge, whose feet are honored even by the greatest teachers of the universe.

Why does the speaker mention the ‘gurus of the three worlds’ while praying?

To emphasize the Lord’s supreme position: even the highest authorities revere Him, so approaching Him is the most reliable spiritual course.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Adopt a mood of humility and guidance-seeking: regularly pray, study authentic scripture, and align daily choices with devotion and dharma rather than ego or anxiety.