Shloka 1

Nanda’s Captivity by Varuṇa and the Revelation of the Spiritual World

Brahma-hrada

Devanagari script

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच एकादश्यां निराहार: समभ्यर्च्य जनार्दनम् । स्‍नातुं नन्दस्तु कालिन्द्यां द्वादश्यां जलमाविशत् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca ekādaśyāṁ nirāhāraḥ samabhyarcya janārdanam snātuṁ nandas tu kālindyāṁ dvādaśyāṁ jalam āviśat

Translation

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi said: Having fasted on Ekādaśī and worshiped Lord Janārdana with due reverence, Nanda Mahārāja entered the waters of the Kālindī on Dvādaśī to take his bath.

Synonyms

• श्री-बादरायणिः: Śrī Bādarāyaṇi (Śuka)
• श्री-बादरायणिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + बादरायणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; honorific + patronymic/name

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• एकादश्याम्: on the eleventh (lunar day)
• एकादश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative of time

• निराहारः: without food; fasting
• निराहारः: कर्तृ-सम्बन्धि विशेषण (Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective (fasting)

• समभ्यर्च्य: having duly worshipped
• समभ्यर्च्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अभि-अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• जनार्दनम्: Janārdana (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• जनार्दनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्नातुम्: to bathe
• स्नातुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); ‘to bathe’

• नन्दः: Nanda
• नन्दः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: सम्बन्ध-बोधक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); contrast/emphasis

• कालिन्द्याम्: in the Kālindī (Yamunā)
• कालिन्द्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिन्दी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; river-name; locative

• द्वादश्याम्: on the twelfth (lunar day)
• द्वादश्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time-locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative of time

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आविशत्: entered
• आविशत्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Nanda Mahārāja
• Janārdana

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Ekadashi fasting?

This verse shows Nanda Mahārāja observing Ekādaśī by fasting and worshiping Janārdana, presenting Ekādaśī as a devotional practice centered on worship of the Lord.

Why did Nanda Maharaja enter the Yamuna on Dwadashi?

After completing Ekādaśī worship, he went on Dvādaśī to bathe in the Yamunā; this sets the narrative stage for the events of Chapter 28 involving Varuṇa’s attendants.

Practical application of Ekadashi and devotion in modern life?

Observe a simple fast or restraint on Ekādaśī, increase prayer and remembrance of the Lord, and use the day to deepen bhakti through worship, japa, and sattvic living.