Shloka 16

The Lord Appears to the Devas and Instructs the Truce; Mandara Is Brought for Churning

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं विरिञ्चादिभिरीडितस्तद् विज्ञाय तेषां हृदयं यथैव । जगाद जीमूतगभीरया गिरा बद्धाञ्जलीन्संवृतसर्वकारकान् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ viriñcādibhir īḍitas tad vijñāya teṣāṁ hṛdayaṁ yathaiva jagāda jīmūta-gabhīrayā girā baddhāñjalīn saṁvṛta-sarva-kārakān

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Thus praised by the demigods headed by Brahmā, the Lord understood the intention within their hearts. Then, in a deep voice like the rumbling of clouds, He replied to the demigods who stood attentively with folded hands.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (श्रीमान् शुकः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• विरिञ्च-आदिभिः: by Brahmā and others
• विरिञ्च-आदिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरिञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विरिञ्चः आदिः येषाम्)

• ईडितः: praised
• ईडितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईड् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि भावः (praised)

• तत्: then
• तत्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः (adverbial ‘then/thereupon’)

• विज्ञाय: having understood
• विज्ञाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerund)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• हृदयम्: the heart / intention
• हृदयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (as/according to)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipāta (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• जगाद: spoke
• जगाद: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• जीमूत-गभीरया: with (a voice) deep like a cloud
• जीमूत-गभीरया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीमूत (प्रातिपदिक) + गभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (जीमूतवत् गभीरा)

• गिरा: by speech / voice
• गिरा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• बद्ध-अञ्जलीन्: those with folded hands
• बद्ध-अञ्जलीन्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध (कृदन्त; √बन्ध् + क्त) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (बद्धः अञ्जलिः येषाम्)

• संवृत-सर्व-कारकान्: those with all faculties restrained
• संवृत-सर्व-कारकान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संवृत (कृदन्त; सम्-√वृ + क्त) + सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वाणि कारकाणि येषां/सर्वकारकान्) विशेषणपूर्वकः ‘संवृत’ (restrained)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Brahmā (Viriñci)
• The Supreme Lord (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord understanding a devotee’s heart?

This verse states that after being praised by Brahmā and others, the Lord immediately understood their inner intention (hṛdaya) and then responded—highlighting that sincere prayer is known to Him even before words are spoken.

Why did the Lord speak after being praised by Brahmā and the others?

Because their prayers revealed their purpose, and the Lord—knowing their hearts—chose to answer them directly, setting the stage for His guidance in the events surrounding the churning of the Milk Ocean.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Approach prayer and decision-making with sincerity and humility—like standing with folded hands—trusting that genuine intentions matter, and cultivate inner restraint and reverence before acting.