Shloka 74

Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction

Devanagari script

तृतीयं चानयन्मासं नवमे नवमेऽहनि । अब्भक्ष उत्तमश्लोकमुपाधावत्समाधिना ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

tṛtīyaṁ cānayan māsaṁ navame navame ’hani ab-bhakṣa uttamaślokam upādhāvat samādhinā

Translation

In the third month he drank only water, once every nine days. Thus, absorbed in samādhi, he worshiped Bhagavān Uttamaśloka, the Supreme Lord praised by chosen hymns.

Synonyms

• तृतीयम्: the third
• तृतीयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; ordinal adjective used with 'मासम्'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आनयत्: he spent/led (through)
• आनयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु) उपसर्ग: आ-
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मासम्: month
• मासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नवमे: on the ninth
• नवमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ordinal used with 'अहनि'

• नवमे: on each ninth
• नवमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; repetition for distributive sense

• अहनि: day
• अहनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अप्-भक्षः: one who subsists on water
• अप्-भक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'अपां भक्षः' = water-eater); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उत्तमश्लोकम्: Uttamaśloka (the Lord praised by sublime hymns)
• उत्तमश्लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक) + श्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (उत्तमः श्लोकः यस्य/उत्तमश्लोकः); here as proper epithet; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उपाधावत्: he approached/ran toward
• उपाधावत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव् (धातु) उपसर्ग: उप-
• Form: लङ्-लकार, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• समाधिना: with concentration/trance
• समाधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva
• Uttamaśloka (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Dhruva Maharaja’s austerities?

This verse states that in the third month Dhruva reduced his intake to only water on every ninth day, and through samādhi he progressively approached the Lord, Uttamaśloka.

Why is the Supreme Lord called Uttamaśloka in the Bhagavatam?

Uttamaśloka means “He who is glorified by the finest verses,” indicating that the Lord is supremely worthy of praise and is approached through sincere devotion and meditation.

Practical application of samādhi and tapasya in modern life?

Adopt steady discipline—simplify habits, regulate food and distractions, and dedicate consistent time for focused prayer/meditation—so devotion becomes deeper and more concentrated.