Shloka 9

The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इति स्म राजा सम्पृष्ट: कृष्णेनानन्तमूर्तिना । माधवं प्रणिपत्याह किरीटेनार्कवर्चसा ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca iti sma rājā sampṛṣṭaḥ kṛṣṇenānanta-mūrtinā mādhavaṁ praṇipatyāha kirīṭenārka-varcasā

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus questioned by Kṛṣṇa of unlimited forms, the king, his helmet radiant like the sun, bowed to Lord Mādhava and replied as follows.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि-पूर्वक नाम

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• sma: indeed/then
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपात; भूतार्थ/अनुस्मरण (emphatic/past marker)

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sampṛṣṭaḥ: having been asked
• sampṛṣṭaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam√prach (धातु; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kṛṣṇena: by Krishna
• kṛṣṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• ananta-mūrtinā: by the one of endless forms
• ananta-mūrtinā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत्; तत्पुरुष (अनन्ता मूर्तिः यस्य)

• mādhavam: Mādhava (Krishna)
• mādhavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mādhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• praṇipatya: having bowed down
• praṇipatya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ni√pat (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having bowed)

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• kirīṭena: with a crown
• kirīṭena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kirīṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे पुं), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• arka-varcasā: with sun-like splendor
• arka-varcasā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arka + varcas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अर्कस्य वर्चस् इव)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Śuka
• Kṛṣṇa
• Mādhava
• The king (rājā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by Krishna being 'Anantamurti'?

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa as ananta-mūrti—He is the unlimited Supreme Lord who manifests innumerable forms, yet remains the same divine Person.

Why does the king bow to Mādhava before answering Krishna?

Because Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord, the king follows dharmic and devotional etiquette—offering obeisance first, then speaking with reverence in response to the Lord’s question.

How can I apply this teaching of humility in modern life?

Pause before responding, offer respect to what is sacred (through prayer or remembrance of God), and speak from a humble, service-minded attitude rather than ego.