Shloka 18

The Freed Kings Glorify Kṛṣṇa; Instruction on Kingship, Detachment, and Remembrance

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच अद्यप्रभृति वो भूपा मय्यात्मन्यखिलेश्वरे । सुद‍ृढा जायते भक्तिर्बाढमाशंसितं तथा ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bhagavān uvāca adya prabhṛti vo bhūpā mayy ātmany akhileśvare su-dṛḍhā jāyate bhaktir bāḍham āśaṁsitaṁ tathā

Translation

The Supreme Lord said: From this day on, O kings, firm devotion will arise in you toward Me, the Supreme Self and Lord of all. I assure you it will happen, just as you desire.

Synonyms

• śrī-bhagavān: The Supreme Lord
• śrī-bhagavān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular, Parasmaipada

• adya: today
• adya: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time

• prabhṛti: starting from
• prabhṛti: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prabhṛti (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• vaḥ: your
• vaḥ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• bhūpāḥ: O kings
• bhūpāḥ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Plural

• mayi: in Me
• mayi: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• ātmani: in the Self/Soul
• ātmani: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• akhila-īśvare: in the Lord of all
• akhila-īśvare: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akhila-īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• su-dṛḍhā: very firm/steadfast
• su-dṛḍhā: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• jāyate: is born/arises
• jāyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular, Atmanepada

• bhaktiḥ: devotion
• bhaktiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bāḍham: indeed/certainly
• bāḍham: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bāḍham (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• āśaṁsitam: desired/prayed for
• āśaṁsitam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + śaṁs (धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular. Past Passive Participle (Kta)

• tathā: so/thus (it shall be)
• tathā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• bhūpāḥ (the assembled kings)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about developing firm bhakti to Krishna?

This verse states that firm devotion (su-dṛḍhā bhakti) should arise by directing one’s devotion to Kṛṣṇa, who is both the indwelling Self (ātmā) and the Supreme Lord of all (akhileśvara).

Why did Krishna say this to the assembled kings in Canto 10 Chapter 73?

In the context of the Rājasūya sacrifice, Kṛṣṇa blesses the gathered kings, directing them toward steadfast devotion to Him as the supreme controller and inner witness, thereby uplifting their spiritual fortune.

How can I apply “mayy ātmani ’khileśvare” in modern life?

Practice seeing Kṛṣṇa as the inner guide and the supreme controller: offer daily actions to Him, cultivate remembrance through prayer or japa, and make decisions aligned with devotion rather than ego.