Shloka 25

Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva

Devanagari script

ॐ नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय महानुभावाय महाविभूतिपतये सकलसात्वतपरिवृढनिकर करकमलकुड्‌मलोपलालितचरणारविन्दयुगल परमपरमेष्ठिन्नमस्ते ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

oṁ namo bhagavate mahā-puruṣāya mahānubhāvāya mahā-vibhūti-pataye sakala-sātvata-parivṛḍha-nikara-kara-kamala-kuḍmalopalālita-caraṇāravinda-yugala parama-parameṣṭhin namas te.

Translation

Om, Verehrung dem Bhagavān, dem Mahāpuruṣa, von erhabener Größe, dem Herrn aller Herrlichkeiten. Deine beiden Lotosfüße werden stets von der Schar der besten Sātvata‑Geweihten mit lotosknospen‑gleichen Händen liebevoll massiert und verehrt. O Höchster der Höchsten, ich bringe Dir meine Ehrerbietung dar.

Synonyms

• oṁ: Om
• oṁ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: oṁ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: Sacred syllable (प्रणव), indeclinable

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभूत)
• Form: Indeclinable salutation (नमः), governs dative

• bhagavate: to the Blessed Lord
• bhagavate: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• mahā-puruṣāya: to the Great Person
• mahā-puruṣāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular; karmadhāraya: 'to the Great Person'

• mahā-anubhāvāya: to the greatly glorious one
• mahā-anubhāvāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + anubhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular; 'of great majesty/power'

• mahā-vibhūti-pataye: to the lord of great powers
• mahā-vibhūti-pataye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūti (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'lord of great opulence'

• sakala-sātvata-parivṛḍha-nikara-kara-kamala-kuḍmala-upalālita-caraṇa-aravinda-yugala: the pair of lotus feet caressed by devotees’ lotus hands
• sakala-sātvata-parivṛḍha-nikara-kara-kamala-kuḍmala-upalālita-caraṇa-aravinda-yugala: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक) + sātvata (प्रातिपदिक) + parivṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + nikara (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक) + kamala (प्रातिपदिक) + kuḍmala (प्रातिपदिक) + upalālita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + aravinda (प्रातिपदिक) + yugala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; long tatpuruṣa chain: 'pair of lotus-feet caressed by the bud-like lotus-hands of the multitude of all the foremost Sātvatas'

• parama-parameṣṭhin: O Supreme Lord (Parameṣṭhin)
• parama-parameṣṭhin: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + parameṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; address: 'O supreme Parameṣṭhin'

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभूत)
• Form: Indeclinable salutation पुनरुक्ति

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th) Singular; enclitic

Purport

It is said that the Absolute Truth is one, but is manifested in different features as Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān. The previous verses described the Brahman and Paramātmā features of the Absolute Truth. Now this prayer is offered in bhakti-yoga to the Absolute Supreme Person. The words used in this regard are sakala-sātvata-parivṛḍha. The word sātvata means “devotees,” and sakala means “all together.” The devotees, who also have lotus feet, serve the lotus feet of the Lord with their lotus hands. The devotees may sometimes not be competent to serve the lotus feet of the Lord, and therefore the Lord is addressed as parama-parameṣṭhin. He is the Supreme Person, yet He is very kind to the devotees. No one is competent to serve the Lord, but even if a devotee is not competent, the merciful Lord accepts the humble attempt of the devotee.

Characters & Entities

• King Citraketu
• Supreme Lord (Bhagavan / Mahapurusha)
• Sātvatas (pure devotees)

FAQs

What is the meaning of 'Mahā-puruṣa' in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, 'Mahā-puruṣa' refers to the Supreme Person—Bhagavān—who is the ultimate master of all opulences and the object of devotion and surrender.

Why does King Citraketu offer prayers to the Lord’s lotus feet in Canto 6?

Citraketu expresses surrender and reverence, recognizing that the Lord’s lotus feet are lovingly served by the foremost devotees; he follows the path of bhakti by honoring the same shelter.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

Cultivate humility and devotion: offer regular prayers, remember the Lord’s greatness, and respect advanced devotees—seeing devotion as the highest ornament of life.