Shloka 16

Nārada’s Past Life, the Lord’s Brief Vision, and the Power of Kīrtana

Devanagari script

ध्यायतश्चरणाम्भोजं भावनिर्जितचेतसा । औत्कण्ठ्याश्रुकलाक्षस्य हृद्यासीन्मे शनैर्हरि: ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

dhyāyataś caraṇāmbhojaṁ bhāva-nirjita-cetasā autkaṇṭhyāśru-kalākṣasya hṛdy āsīn me śanair hariḥ

Translation

Sobald ich mit vom transzendentalen Liebesgefühl verwandeltem Geist über die Lotosfüße des Herrn meditierte, rollten Tränen der Sehnsucht aus meinen Augen. Ohne Verzug erschien Śrī Hari—Śrī Kṛṣṇa—auf dem Lotos meines Herzens.

Synonyms

• dhyāyataḥ: of (me) meditating
• dhyāyataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (ध्यै) (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; ‘of me who was meditating’

• caraṇa-ambhojam: the lotus-feet
• caraṇa-ambhojam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ambhoja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः, ‘चरणयोः अम्भोजम्’ (lotus of the feet)

• bhāva-nirjita-cetasā: with a mind conquered by devotion
• bhāva-nirjita-cetasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + nirjita (कृदन्त, √ji/जि, nir-, क्त) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः, ‘भावेन निर्जितं चेतः येन’ (mind conquered by devotion); dhyāyataḥ इत्यस्य/अहम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• autkaṇṭhya-āśru-kalā-akṣasya: of (me) whose eyes had tear-streaks from longing
• autkaṇṭhya-āśru-kalā-akṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: autkaṇṭhya (प्रातिपदिक) + āśru (प्रातिपदिक) + kalā (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः, ‘औत्कण्ठ्येन अश्रुकलायुक्ते अक्षिणी यस्य सः’ (eyes with streaks of tears due to longing)

• hṛdi: in the heart
• hṛdi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• āsīt: was/appeared
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्) (लङ्)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• me: of me / to me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (enclitic)

• śanaiḥ: slowly, gradually
• śanaiḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• hariḥ: Hari (Lord)
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Purport

The word bhāva is significant here. This bhāva stage is attained after one has transcendental affection for the Lord. The first initial stage is called śraddhā, or a liking for the Supreme Lord, and in order to increase that liking one has to associate with pure devotees of the Lord. The third stage is to practice the prescribed rules and regulations of devotional service. This will dissipate all sorts of misgivings and remove all personal deficiencies that hamper progress in devotional service.

Characters & Entities

• Narada Muni
• Hari

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about seeing God in the heart?

This verse explains that when one meditates on the Lord’s lotus feet with a mind conquered by bhāva (devotional emotion), Lord Hari gradually becomes manifest within the heart.

Why did Narada Muni say this to Vyasadeva in Canto 1 Chapter 6?

Narada is describing his own direct realization—how sincere bhakti-meditation led to inner revelation—so that Vyasadeva understands the transformative power of devotion and can present Bhagavatam as the mature fruit of spiritual experience.

Practical application of bhakti meditation and longing (viraha) in modern life?

Set aside daily time to meditate on the Lord’s lotus feet (through mantra, prayer, and remembrance), and let sincere longing replace distraction; the verse teaches that steady devotion brings inner clarity and a felt presence of the Divine over time.