Shloka 25

Genealogies of Svāyambhuva Manu, the Appearance of Yajña, and Atri’s Sons

Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Śiva Expansions

Devanagari script

कृपावलोकेन हसद्वदनेनोपलम्भितान् । तद्रोचिषा प्रतिहते निमील्य मुनिरक्षिणी ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

kṛpāvalokena hasad- vadanenopalambhitān tad-rociṣā pratihate nimīlya munir akṣiṇī

Translation

Atri Muni rejoiced to behold their gracious glance and smiling faces; yet, dazzled by the effulgence of their forms, he closed his eyes for a time.

Synonyms

• kṛpāvalokena: by a compassionate glance
• kṛpāvalokena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā + avaloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (kṛpayā avalokaḥ); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• hasat: smiling
• hasat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √has (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन as compound-member; qualifies vadana

• vadanena: with (their) face
• vadanena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• upalambhitān: made known; recognized
• upalambhitān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√labh (धातु) + ita (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; ‘made to be perceived/recognized’

• tad-rociṣā: by that radiance
• tad-rociṣā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + rocis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (tasya rociṣā); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (rociṣ-), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• pratihate: when (their eyes) were struck/dazzled
• pratihate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prati-√han (धातु) + ta (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; locative absolute sense with akṣiṇī implied

• nimīlya: having closed
• nimīlya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√mīl (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having closed’

• muniḥ: the sage (Atri)
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• akṣiṇī: (his) two eyes
• akṣiṇī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन

Purport

Since the deities were smiling, he could understand that they were pleased with him. Their glaring bodily effulgence was intolerable to his eyes, so he closed them for the time being.

FAQs

What is the meaning of Bhagavatam 4.1.25?

It describes a chaste, radiant woman (in the narrative of Canto 4, Chapter 1) who, with a compassionate smile, playfully rebukes the sages; overwhelmed by her brilliance, they close their eyes—showing both her extraordinary effulgence and the sages’ self-restraint.

Why did the sages close their eyes in this Bhagavatam verse?

They closed their eyes because her radiance powerfully affected their senses; as renunciants, they responded by withdrawing their gaze to maintain composure and inner control.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

It teaches sense-discipline: when confronted with distraction or temptation, consciously withdraw attention and re-center the mind—especially through remembrance of dharma and devotion.