Shloka 20

Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent

Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear

Devanagari script

तत्र गत्वा जगन्नाथं देवदेवं वृषाकपिम् । पुरुषं पुरुषसूक्तेन उपतस्थे समाहित: ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

tatra gatvā jagannāthaṁ deva-devaṁ vṛṣākapim puruṣaṁ puruṣa-sūktena upatasthe samāhitaḥ

Translation

Reaching the shore of the Ocean of Milk, the demigods, with minds fully composed, worshiped Jagannātha—Devadeva, Vṛṣākapi, Lord Viṣṇu—by reciting the Vedic hymns known as the Puruṣa-sūkta.

Synonyms

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having gone’

• जगत्-नाथम्: the Lord of the universe
• जगत्-नाथम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of worship)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (जगतः नाथः/Lord of the world)

• देव-देवम्: the God of gods
• देव-देवम्: कर्म (Karma/Apposition to जगन्नाथम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवः/God of gods)

• वृषाकपिम्: Vṛṣākapi (a name of Viṣṇu)
• वृषाकपिम्: कर्म (Karma/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषाकपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (विष्णोः नाम)

• पुरुषम्: the Supreme Person
• पुरुषम्: कर्म (Karma/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुरुष-सूक्तेन: with the Puruṣa-sūkta hymn
• पुरुष-सूक्तेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + सूक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पुरुषस्य सूक्तम्/the hymn ‘Puruṣa-sūkta’)

• उपतस्थे: worshipped, attended upon
• उपतस्थे: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: उप

• समाहितः: composed, concentrated
• समाहितः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of implied subject ब्रह्मा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘collected/absorbed’

Purport

The demigods, such as Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, King Indra, Candra and Sūrya, are all subordinate to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Aside from the demigods, even in human society there are many influential personalities supervising various businesses or establishments. Lord Viṣṇu, however, is the God of gods ( parameśvara ). He is parama-puruṣa, the Supreme Being, Paramātmā. As confirmed in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.1) , īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ sac-cid-ānanda-vigrahaḥ: “Kṛṣṇa, known as Govinda, is the supreme controller. He has an eternal, blissful, spiritual body.” No one is equal to or greater than the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore He is described here by many words: jagannātha, deva-deva, vṛṣākapi and puruṣa. The supremacy of Lord Viṣṇu is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (10.12) in this statement by Arjuna:

Characters & Entities

• Akrūra
• Jagannātha (Supreme Lord)
• Vṛṣākapi (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping Krishna with the Puruṣa-sūkta?

This verse shows a devotee worshiping the Supreme Person (the Lord of the universe) through the Puruṣa-sūkta, emphasizing focused, reverent devotion while recognizing the Lord as the ultimate Puruṣa.

Why did Akrūra worship the Lord before meeting Krishna?

As he approached the Lord’s presence, Akrūra’s devotion naturally intensified; he honored Krishna as the Supreme Lord (devadeva, jagannātha) and offered worship with a steady, concentrated mind.

Practical application of “samāhitaḥ” (full concentration) in modern devotional life?

Approach prayer, mantra-japa, or scripture recitation with a settled mind—reducing distraction—so worship becomes attentive and heartfelt rather than mechanical.