Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 34

Śaryāti, Sukanyā, Cyavana Muni, the Aśvinī-kumāras, and Kakudmī-Revatī

Baladeva Marriage

Devanagari script

भुवो भारावताराय भगवान् भूतभावन: । अवतीर्णो निजांशेन पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन: ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

bhuvo bhārāvatārāya bhagavān bhūta-bhāvanaḥ avatīrṇo nijāṁśena puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ

Translation

Baladeva ist Bhagavān, der Wohltäter aller Wesen; Hören und Singen Seiner Herrlichkeiten läutert. Um die Last der Erde zu mindern und die Welt zu reinigen, ist Er mit Seiner eigenen Ausdehnung herabgestiegen.

Synonyms

• bhuvaḥ: of the earth
• bhuvaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग); ‘of the earth’

• bhāra-avatārāya: for (the purpose of) the descent to relieve the burden
• bhāra-avatārāya: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘for the descent to remove the burden’ (purpose)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• bhūta-bhāvanaḥ: the sustainer of beings
• bhūta-bhāvanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); तत्पुरुषः ‘nourisher/creator of beings’

• avatīrṇaḥ: has descended
• avatīrṇaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avatīrṇa (कृदन्त; √tṝ/तॄ with ava- prefix)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, ‘descended’

• nija-aṁśena: by his own portion
• nija-aṁśena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक) + aṁśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); तत्पुरुषः ‘by (his) own portion’

• puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ: (he) whose hearing and chanting are holy
• puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + śravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kīrtana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (śravaṇa + kīrtana) with puṇya as qualifier: ‘whose hearing and chanting are meritorious’ (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत्)

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about hearing and chanting the Lord’s glories?

This verse states that the Lord is “puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ”—His topics are inherently purifying, and hearing and chanting about Him cleanse the heart and elevate one spiritually.

Why does the Supreme Lord descend to the earth according to the Bhagavatam?

The verse explains that He descends “bhāra-avatārāya”—to remove the burden of the earth and restore dharma, acting as the benefactor of all beings.

Practical application of shravanam and kirtanam in modern life?

Regularly hear Bhagavatam teachings and chant the Lord’s names daily; even brief, sincere practice brings purification, steadiness of mind, and devotion-centered living.