Shloka 33

Devanagari script

विभज्य तनयेभ्य: क्ष्मां राजर्षिर्मलयध्वज: । आरिराधयिषु: कृष्णं स जगाम कुलाचलम् ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

vibhajya tanayebhyaḥ kṣmāṁ rājarṣir malayadhvajaḥ ārirādhayiṣuḥ kṛṣṇaṁ sa jagāma kulācalam

Translation

The saintly King Malayadhvaja divided his entire kingdom among his sons. Then, wishing to worship Śrī Kṛṣṇa with undivided attention, he went to a solitary place known as Kulācala.

Synonyms

• vibhajya: having divided
• vibhajya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय/ल्यप्), indeclinable; ‘having divided’

• tanayebhyaḥ: to (his) sons
• tanayebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural

• kṣmām: the earth/kingdom
• kṣmām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• rājarṣiḥ: the royal sage
• rājarṣiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘royal sage’

• malaya-dhvajaḥ: Malayadhvaja
• malaya-dhvajaḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: malaya (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name ‘Malayadhvaja’

• ārirādhayiṣuḥ: desiring to worship
• ārirādhayiṣuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + rādh (धातु)
• Form: Desiderative participle (सन्नन्त/इषु-प्रत्यय), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘wishing to worship/propitiate’

• kṛṣṇam: Krishna
• kṛṣṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• kula-acalam: to Mount Kulācala
• kula-acalam: Gati-karma/Deśa (गतिकर्म/देश-गमन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक) + acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘the Kulācala (a mountain)’

Purport

Malayadhvaja, the great king, was certainly a mahā-bhāgavata, topmost devotee. By executing devotional service, he begot many sons and disciples for propagating the bhakti cult ( śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ ). Actually, the entire world should be divided among such disciples; everyone should be engaged in preaching the cult of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In other words, when disciples are grown up and are able to preach, the spiritual master should retire and sit down in a solitary place to write and execute nirjana-bhajana. This means sitting silently in a solitary place and executing devotional service. This nirjana-bhajana, which is the silent worship of the Supreme Lord, is not possible for a neophyte devotee. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura never advised a neophyte devotee to go to a solitary place to engage in devotional service. Indeed, he has written a song in this connection:

Characters & Entities

• Malayadhvaja
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about retiring from worldly duties for bhakti?

This verse shows a dharmic transition: after responsibly handing over his kingdom to his sons, King Malayadhvaja turns his life toward exclusive worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Why did King Malayadhvaja go to Kulācala?

He went to a sacred mountain setting to focus his mind and life on devoted worship of Kṛṣṇa, free from the distractions of royal administration.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

Fulfill duties responsibly, then intentionally create space—through simplification, spiritual retreat, and steady practice—for deeper Kṛṣṇa-centered devotion.