Shloka 24

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

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

Devanagari script

वासुदेवकलानन्त: सहस्रवदन: स्वराट् । अग्रतो भविता देवो हरे: प्रियचिकीर्षया ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

vāsudeva-kalānantaḥ sahasra-vadanaḥ svarāṭ agrato bhavitā devo hareḥ priya-cikīrṣayā

Translation

The foremost expansion of Vāsudeva is Ananta, the thousand-mouthed, self-sovereign Lord; to please Hari, He will appear first as Baladeva.

Synonyms

• वासुदेव-कल-अनन्तः: Ananta, an expansion of Vāsudeva
• वासुदेव-कल-अनन्तः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + कला (प्रातिपदिक) + अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (वासुदेवस्य कला = अंशः; तस्य अनन्तः)

• सहस्र-वदनः: the thousand-faced one
• सहस्र-वदनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्यानि सहस्रं वदनानि सः)

• स्वराट्: self-sovereign, independent
• स्वराट्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वराट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणार्थे (as epithet)

• अग्रतः: in front, ahead
• अग्रतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• भविता: will become / will appear
• भविता: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; परिप्रयोगे ‘भविता’ (he will become/appear)

• देवः: the divine one
• देवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृसमनाधिकरण (apposition to subject)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रिय-चिकीर्षया: by the desire to do what is dear (to him)
• प्रिय-चिकीर्षया: हेतु/करण (Cause/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + चिकीर्षा (प्रातिपदिक; इच्छार्थक भाव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रियं चिकीर्षा = to do what is dear)

Purport

Śrī Baladeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. He is equal in supremacy to the Supreme Godhead, yet wherever Kṛṣṇa appears, Śrī Baladeva appears as His brother, sometimes elder and sometimes younger. When Kṛṣṇa appears, all His plenary expansions and other incarnations appear with Him. This is elaborately explained in Caitanya-caritāmṛta. This time, Baladeva would appear before Kṛṣṇa as Kṛṣṇa’s elder brother.

Characters & Entities

• Ananta Śeṣa
• Vāsudeva
• Hari

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Ananta Śeṣa in Krishna’s pastimes?

This verse says Ananta Śeṣa, an expansion of Vāsudeva and the thousand-hooded Lord, appears first to help fulfill what is dear to Lord Hari—supporting and preparing the Lord’s līlā.

Why does Ananta Śeṣa appear before Krishna according to Bhagavatam 10.1.24?

He appears beforehand (“agrataḥ”) to carry out Hari’s beloved purpose—serving as the Lord’s support and assistant in the unfolding of Krishna’s descent and pastimes.

Practical application: what does ‘serving what is dear to Hari’ mean in modern life?

It points to bhakti as active service—aligning one’s choices with what pleases the Lord (devotion, humility, protection of dharma, and support of genuine spiritual practice).