Shloka 9

Indra’s Prayers and the Coronation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa as Govinda

Govindābhiṣeka

Devanagari script

तवावतारोऽयमधोक्षजेहभुवो भराणामुरुभारजन्मनाम् । चमूपतीनामभवाय देवभवाय युष्मच्चरणानुवर्तिनाम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

tavāvatāro ’yam adhokṣajeha bhuvo bharāṇām uru-bhāra-janmanām camū-patīnām abhavāya deva bhavāya yuṣmac-caraṇānuvartinām

Translation

O Adhokṣaja, transcendent Lord, You descend into this world to destroy the warlike kings and commanders who burden the earth and cause terrible upheavals. O Lord, at the same time You act for the welfare of those who faithfully follow Your lotus feet.

Synonyms

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• avatāraḥ: descent / incarnation
• avatāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• ayam: this
• ayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• adhokṣaja: O Adhokṣaja (Lord beyond senses)
• adhokṣaja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhokṣaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• bhuvaḥ: of the earth
• bhuvaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• bharāṇām: of burdens
• bharāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural

• uru-bhāra-janmanām: of those born as a great burden
• uru-bhāra-janmanām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uru (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘those whose birth is (for) great burden’; Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural

• camū-patīnām: of the commanders/kings (leaders of armies)
• camū-patīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: camū (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘lords of armies’; Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural

• abhavāya: for destruction / for non-being
• abhavāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular

• deva: O God
• deva: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular

• bhavāya: for welfare / for existence
• bhavāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular

• yuṣmat-caraṇa-anuvartinām: of those who follow your feet (devotees)
• yuṣmat-caraṇa-anuvartinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anuvartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘followers of your feet’; Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural

Purport

This verse utilizes an attractive poetic device. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s descent into the world is said to be for the abhava, literally “nonexistence” or “destruction,” of the demoniac warlords, and simultaneously for the bhava, or “existence, prosperity,” of those who faithfully serve the Lord’s lotus feet.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Adhokshaja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the purpose of Krishna’s avatara?

This verse says Krishna descends to relieve the earth’s burden by ending the reign of violent, militaristic rulers, and to grant well-being and divine fortune to those who follow His lotus feet.

Why do the Vrajavasis address Krishna as Adhokshaja in this verse?

They acknowledge that although Krishna appears as their beloved child and friend, He is actually the transcendental Lord beyond material perception, whose actions have cosmic purpose.

Practical application of following Krishna’s lotus feet in modern life?

Align daily choices with devotion—hearing and chanting about Krishna, living ethically, and seeking shelter in Him—trusting that sincere bhakti brings inner stability and auspiciousness even amid social turmoil.