Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 44

Nārada Sees Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Yoga-māyā in the Palaces of the Queens

Dvāra-kā-līlā

Devanagari script

एवं मनुष्यपदवीमनुवर्तमानो नारायणोऽखिलभवाय गृहीतशक्ति: । रेमेऽङ्ग षोडशसहस्रवराङ्गनानां सव्रीडसौहृदनिरीक्षणहासजुष्ट: ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ manuṣya-padavīm anuvartamāno nārāyaṇo ’khila-bhavāya gṛhīta-śaktiḥ reme ’ṇga ṣoḍaśa-sahasra-varāṅganānāṁ sa-vrīḍa-sauhṛda-nirīkṣaṇa-hāsa-juṣṭaḥ

Translation

Thus Lord Nārāyaṇa followed the ways of men, revealing His divine potencies for the welfare of all beings. O King, He delighted in the company of His sixteen thousand exalted consorts, who served Him with shy, affectionate glances and gentle laughter.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• manuṣya-padavīm: the human course/condition
• manuṣya-padavīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manuṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + padavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध): ‘path/condition of a human’

• anuvartamānaḥ: following
• anuvartamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√vṛt (धातु) + vartamāna (कृदन्त; शानच्/वर्तमान-कृदन्त, middle participle)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘following, conforming’

• nārāyaṇaḥ: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• akhila-bhavāya: for the benefit of all
• akhila-bhavāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/विशेषणपूर्वपद): ‘for the welfare/being of all’

• gṛhīta-śaktiḥ: having assumed (his) power
• gṛhīta-śaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛhīta (कृदन्त; √grah/ग्रह्, क्त-प्रत्यय) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘having assumed power/energy’; agrees with nārāyaṇaḥ (as bahuvrīhi-like adjectival usage)

• reme: enjoyed, sported
• reme: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ram (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• aṅga: O dear (indeed)
• aṅga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aṅga (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; vocative-like particle (सम्बोधन-निपात)

• ṣoḍaśa-sahasra-varāṅganānām: of sixteen thousand excellent women
• ṣoḍaśa-sahasra-varāṅganānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (संख्या) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅganā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; तत्पुरुष-समास with numeral qualifier: ‘of sixteen-thousand excellent women’

• sa-vrīḍa-sauhṛda-nirīkṣaṇa-hāsa-juṣṭaḥ: attended by shy, affectionate glances and smiles
• sa-vrīḍa-sauhṛda-nirīkṣaṇa-hāsa-juṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘with’) + vrīḍā (प्रातिपदिक) + sauhṛda (प्रातिपदिक) + nirīkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + hāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + juṣṭa (कृदन्त; √juṣ/जुष्, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (उपपद-समास) with ‘sa-’ = ‘accompanied by’; kta-participle ‘juṣṭa’ = ‘endowed/attended by’

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Kṛṣṇa’s sixteen thousand queens (Dvārakā-mahiṣīs)

FAQs

Why does the Srimad Bhagavatam say Nārāyaṇa follows the path of human conduct (manuṣya-padavī)?

This verse explains that the Supreme Lord, though transcendental, adopts humanlike behavior to teach dharma and to reveal intimate bhakti-filled pastimes that uplift all beings.

How could Kṛṣṇa be with sixteen thousand queens in Dvārakā?

The verse indicates the Lord manifests His śakti (divine potency) for the welfare of all; by that potency He expands His presence to reciprocate fully with each queen in loving, personal pastimes.

What is a practical application of this verse for modern devotees?

See God’s greatness not only in cosmic power but in tender, personal reciprocation; cultivate respectful, affectionate devotion and remember that divine life harmonizes dharma with loving relationship.