Shloka 40

Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma

Devanagari script

तस्मै भुक्तवते प्रीत्या राम: परमधर्मवित् । मखवासैर्गन्धमाल्यै: परां प्रीतिं व्यधात्पुन: ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

tasmai bhuktavate prītyā rāmaḥ parama-dharma-vit makha-vāsair gandha-mālyaiḥ parāṁ prītiṁ vyadhāt punaḥ

Translation

When Akrura had eaten to his satisfaction, Lord Balarama, the supreme knower of religious duties, offered him aromatic herbs for sweetening his mouth, along with fragrances and flower garlands. Thus Akrura once again enjoyed the highest pleasure.

Synonyms

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भुक्तवते: to the one who had eaten
• भुक्तवते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्तवत् (प्रातिपदिक; √भुज्)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘one who has eaten’

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• रामः: Rāma (Balarāma)
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• परमधर्मवित्: knower of the highest dharma
• परमधर्मवित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + धर्म + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: (परमः धर्मः) + वित् ‘knower’; कर्तृविशेषण (qualifying रामः)

• मखवासैः: with sacrificial garments
• मखवासैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख + वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: मखस्य वासाः ‘sacrificial garments/robes’

• गन्धमाल्यैः: with perfumes and garlands
• गन्धमाल्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (itaretara): गन्धाः च माल्यानि च

• पराम्: supreme/great
• पराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘प्रीतिम्’)

• प्रीतिम्: delight/pleasure
• प्रीतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• व्यधात्: bestowed/arranged
• व्यधात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धा (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: वि-; धातु: धा (to place/arrange)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्तिबोधक अव्यय (adverb: again)

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Balarāma)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about honoring a guest (atithi-satkara)?

This verse shows Lord Rāma (Balarāma) lovingly honoring a guest after feeding him, offering garments, fragrances, and garlands—an ideal of dharmic hospitality performed with devotion.

Why did Lord Balarama give garments, fragrance, and garlands after the guest had eaten?

Because true hospitality in the Bhagavatam is not merely feeding someone; it is completing the welcome with affectionate honor and gifts, increasing the guest’s satisfaction and showing dharma in action.

Practical application of Bhagavatam hospitality in modern life?

Serve guests warmly, ensure their needs are met, and offer respectful gestures (kind words, a small gift, or thoughtful care) as an act of devotion rather than social obligation.