Shloka 21

Devanagari script

विज्ञाय तावुत्तमगायकिङ्करा- वभ्युत्थित: साध्वसविस्मृतक्रम: । ननाम नामानि गृणन्मधुद्विष: पार्षत्प्रधानाविति संहताञ्जलि: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

vijñāya tāv uttamagāya-kiṅkarāv abhyutthitaḥ sādhvasa-vismṛta-kramaḥ nanāma nāmāni gṛṇan madhudviṣaḥ pārṣat-pradhānāv iti saṁhatāñjaliḥ

Translation

Recognizing them as exalted singers and direct servants of the Supreme Lord, Dhruva Mahārāja rose at once; yet, bewildered and hurried, he forgot the proper etiquette of reception. Thus he simply bowed with folded hands, chanting and glorifying the holy names of the Lord, the slayer of Madhu.

Synonyms

• विज्ञाय: having understood/recognized
• विज्ञाय: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन (pronoun)

• उत्तमगाय-किṅकरौ: the two attendants of Uttamagāya (the Lord)
• उत्तमगाय-किṅकरौ: कर्मधार्य-सम्बन्ध/सम्बोधन-आधार (Appositional identifier of तौ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तमगाय + किṅकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (उत्तमगायस्य किṅकरौ)

• अभ्युत्थितः: rose up
• अभ्युत्थितः: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + उत् + स्था (धातु) → अभ्युत्थित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP) प्रयुक्तः विधेयवत्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (he, having risen)

• साध्वस-विस्मृत-क्रमः: whose proper conduct was forgotten due to awe
• साध्वस-विस्मृत-क्रमः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्वस + विस्मृत + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (साध्वसेन विस्मृतः क्रमः यस्य)

• ननाम: bowed down
• ननाम: क्रिया (main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नामानि: names
• नामानि: कर्म (Karma/object of gṛṇan)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• गृणन्: praising/reciting
• गृणन्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/concomitant action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गृ (धातु) → गृणत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मधुद्विषः: of Madhudviṣa (slayer of Madhu)
• मधुद्विषः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + द्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (मधुं द्वेष्टि इति)

• पार्षत्-प्रधानौ: the two chief attendants
• पार्षत्-प्रधानौ: सम्बन्ध (Apposition to तौ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्षद + प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्मधारयः (पार्षदौ एव प्रधानौ)

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• संहत-अञ्जलिः: with joined palms
• संहत-अञ्जलिः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संहत + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (संहतः अञ्जलिः यस्य)

Purport

Chanting of the holy names of the Lord is perfect in every way. When Dhruva Mahārāja saw the Viṣṇudūtas, the direct associates of Lord Viṣṇu, four-handed and nicely decorated, he could understand who they were, but for the time being he was puzzled. But simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, he could satisfy the uncommon guests who had all of a sudden arrived before him. The chanting of the holy name of the Lord is perfect; even though one does not know how to please Lord Viṣṇu or His associates, simply by sincerely chanting the holy name of the Lord, everything becomes perfect. A devotee, therefore, either in danger or in happiness, constantly chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. When he is in danger he is immediately relieved, and when he is in a position to see Lord Viṣṇu or His associates directly, by chanting this mahā-mantra he can please the Lord. This is the absolute nature of the mahā-mantra. Either in danger or in happiness, it can be chanted without limitation.

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva Mahārāja
• Madhu-dviṣa (Lord Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• the two principal Pārṣadas (chief attendants of the Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about chanting the holy names in times of awe or emotion?

This verse shows that when devotion becomes intense, a devotee naturally chants the Lord’s names—here Dhruva repeatedly glorifies Madhu-dviṣa—making nāma-smaraṇa the spontaneous expression of surrender.

Why did Dhruva Maharaja bow down to the Lord’s attendants?

Because he recognized them as the Lord’s chief associates and exalted glorifiers; overwhelmed with reverence, he honored them as directly connected to Viṣṇu and thus worthy of worshipful respect.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional practice?

When meeting saintly devotees or encountering sacred moments, respond with humility, offer respect, and take shelter of the holy name—letting bhakti guide behavior more than social formality.