Shloka 1

Brahmā Worships Vāmana; the Demons Attack; Bali is Bound and Questioned About the Third Step

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच सत्यं समीक्ष्याब्जभवो नखेन्दुभि- र्हतस्वधामद्युतिरावृतोऽभ्यगात् । मरीचिमिश्रा ऋषयो बृहद्‌व्रता: सनन्दनाद्या नरदेव योगिन: ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca satyaṁ samīkṣyābja-bhavo nakhendubhir hata-svadhāma-dyutir āvṛto ’bhyagāt marīci-miśrā ṛṣayo bṛhad-vratāḥ sanandanādyā nara-deva yoginaḥ

Translation

Brahmā, born from the lotus, saw the truth: the radiance of his own Brahmaloka was dimmed by the blazing effulgence from the toenails of Lord Vāmanadeva. He therefore approached the Supreme Personality of Godhead, accompanied by great sages headed by Marīci and yogīs like Sanandana—yet before that splendor they appeared insignificant.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; honorific name; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘said’

• satyam: truly
• satyam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; used adverbially ‘truly’; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• samīkṣya: having observed
• samīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + īkṣ (ईक्ष् धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having observed/considered’

• abja-bhavaḥ: the lotus-born (Brahmā)
• abja-bhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abja + bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘lotus-born’ (Brahmā); Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• nakha-indubhiḥ: by (his) moonlike nails
• nakha-indubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakha + indu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘by the moonlike nails’; Instrumental, Plural

• hata-svadhāma-dyutiḥ: with his own splendor dimmed
• hata-svadhāma-dyutiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (gam/han?; हन् धातु kta) + sva + dhāman + dyuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose own radiance was destroyed’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• āvṛtaḥ: covered
• āvṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + vṛ (वृ धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘covered/veiled’

• abhyagāt: approached
• abhyagāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada; ‘approached/went’

• marīci-miśrāḥ: accompanied by Marīci (etc.)
• marīci-miśrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: marīci + miśra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘with Marīci (and others)’; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ṛṣayaḥ: sages
• ṛṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• bṛhad-vratāḥ: of great vows
• bṛhad-vratāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bṛhat + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘of great vows’; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• sanandana-ādyāḥ: beginning with Sanandana
• sanandana-ādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanandana + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘beginning with Sanandana’; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• nara-deva: O king
• nara-deva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा, एकवचन; here used as संबोधन (vocative) addressing the king; Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• yoginaḥ: yogīs
• yoginaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Brahmā (Abjabhava)
• Marīci
• Sanandana (Kumāra)
• King Parīkṣit (Naradeva)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Brahmā’s humility before Lord Viṣṇu?

This verse shows Brahmā approaching after realizing the truth, and even his own brilliance is eclipsed by the Lord’s splendor—highlighting Brahmā’s reverence and the Lord’s supreme position.

Why are Marīci and the Kumāras (Sanandana and others) mentioned together in this verse?

They represent exalted categories of Vedic authorities—Prajāpati sages and renounced yogīs—who accompany Brahmā to witness and honor the Lord’s actions in the unfolding narrative.

How can a devotee apply the teaching of this verse in modern life?

By cultivating humility and truth-seeking: even the greatest beings approach God with reverence, so a practitioner can approach prayer, study, and service with the same mood of surrender.