Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 21

Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana

Devanagari script

कृते शुक्लश्चतुर्बाहुर्जटिलो वल्कलाम्बर: । कृष्णाजिनोपवीताक्षान् बिभ्रद् दण्डकमण्डलू ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

kṛte śuklaś catur-bāhur jaṭilo valkalāmbaraḥ kṛṣṇājinopavītākṣān bibhrad daṇḍa-kamaṇḍalū

Translation

Im Satya-yuga ist der Herr weiß und vierarmig, mit verfilzten Locken und in Rinde gekleidet. Er trägt ein schwarzes Hirschfell, die heilige Schnur, Gebetsperlen sowie Stab und Wasserkrug eines Brahmacārī.

Synonyms

• कृते: in the Kṛta (Satya) age
• कृते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘कृते (युगे)’ = in the Kṛta age (locative of time)

• शुक्लः: white, bright
• शुक्लः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• चतुर्-बाहुः: four-armed
• चतुर्-बाहुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (संख्यापूर्वपद)

• जटिलः: matted-haired
• जटिलः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वल्कल-अम्बरः: wearing bark-garments
• वल्कल-अम्बरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वल्कल + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वल्कलम् अम्बरं यस्य/वल्कलस्य अम्बरम्)

• कृष्ण-अजिन-उपवीत-अक्षान्: black deerskin, sacred thread, and rosary beads
• कृष्ण-अजिन-उपवीत-अक्षान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + अजिन + उपवीत + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (items carried: black-deerskin, sacred thread, rosary beads)

• बिभ्रत्: bearing, carrying
• बिभ्रत्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘bearing/carrying’

• दण्ड-कमण्डलू: a staff and a water-pot
• दण्ड-कमण्डलू: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड + कमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (two items)

Characters & Entities

• Nārada Muni
• Vasudeva
• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord as the yuga-avatāra)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord’s form in Satya Yuga?

Bhagavatam 11.5.21 describes the Satya-yuga manifestation as fair-complexioned and four-armed, with matted hair and simple ascetic emblems like bark garments, beads, staff, and water pot.

Why is Nārada Muni describing yuga-avatāras to Vasudeva in Canto 11?

Nārada instructs Vasudeva on how the Lord appears and how dharma is practiced in each age, so devotees can understand yuga-dharma and recognize the Lord’s guidance across time.

Practical application of this verse in modern life (Kali Yuga)?

It encourages simplicity, purity, and disciplined remembrance of God—qualities symbolized by the ascetic emblems—while prompting seekers to learn the appropriate spiritual practice for their own age.