Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 6

Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Life in Dvārakā; the Captive Kings’ Appeal; Nārada Announces the Rājasūya

Devanagari script

अथाप्लुतोऽम्भस्यमले यथाविधि क्रियाकलापं परिधाय वाससी । चकार सन्ध्योपगमादि सत्तमो हुतानलो ब्रह्म जजाप वाग्यत: ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

athāpluto ’mbhasy amale yathā-vidhi kriyā-kalāpaṁ paridhāya vāsasī cakāra sandhyopagamādi sattamo hutānalo brahma jajāpa vāg-yataḥ

Translation

Then that most saintly Lord bathed in sanctified water according to rule, donned His lower and upper garments, and performed the full course of prescribed rites, beginning with the dawn sandhyā worship. After offering oblations into the sacred fire, Lord Kṛṣṇa, restraining His speech, silently chanted the Gāyatrī (Brahman) mantra.

Synonyms

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्धक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• आप्लुतः: having bathed
• आप्लुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ- प्लु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive/active participle in sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स्नातः/आप्लुतः’

• अम्भसि: in water
• अम्भसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अमले: pure
• अमले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अम्भसि विशेषणम्

• यथा-विधि: according to the prescribed rule
• यथा-विधि: Sambandha (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + विधि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (according to rule)

• क्रिया-कलापम्: the set of rituals
• क्रिया-कलापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया + कलाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (क्रियाणां कलापः)

• परिधाय: having put on
• परिधाय: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• वाससी: two garments
• वाससी: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्‍त्र/वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘two garments’

• चकार: performed/did
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सन्ध्या-उपगम-आदि: the approaching of twilight etc. (sandhyā rites)
• सन्ध्या-उपगम-आदि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या + उपगम + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सन्ध्यायाः उपगमः) + ‘आदि’ (etc.)

• सत्तमः: the best of the virtuous
• सत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठः’

• हुत-अनलः: having offered oblations into the fire
• हुत-अनलः: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हुत + अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (हुतः अनलः यस्मिन्/येन) = ‘one who has offered into fire’

• ब्रह्म: the Veda/sacred mantra
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; जप्य-विषयः

• जजाप: chanted
• जजाप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• वाक्-यतः: with restrained speech
• वाक्-यतः: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् + यत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वाचः यतः = वाणी-निग्रही)

Purport

Śrīdhara Svāmī points out that since Lord Kṛṣṇa was in the disciplic succession from Kaṇva Muni, He offered oblations to the fire before sunrise. Then He chanted the Gāyatrī mantra.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Sandhya-vandana (twilight worship)?

This verse shows Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself performing sandhyā worship and related daily rites, emphasizing the sanctity of regular devotional discipline and Vedic duty.

Why is Kṛṣṇa described as performing homa and chanting Vedic mantras if He is Bhagavān?

Śukadeva presents Kṛṣṇa as the ideal ruler and exemplar of dharma—He honors Vedic conduct to teach society and uphold sacred order while remaining the Supreme.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

Adopt a steady morning routine: cleanliness, simple prayer/meditation (japa), and mindful daily discipline—turning ordinary life into sacred practice.