Shloka 35

Hari’s Special Mercy, Śiva’s Quick Boons, and the Deliverance from Vṛkāsura

Devanagari script

इत्थं भगवतश्चित्रैर्वचोभि: स सुपेशलै: । भिन्नधीर्विस्मृत: शीर्ष्णि स्वहस्तं कुमतिर्न्यधात् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

itthaṁ bhagavataś citrair vacobhiḥ sa su-peśalaiḥ bhinna-dhīr vismṛtaḥ śīrṣṇi sva-hastaṁ kumatir nyadhāt

Translation

Thus bewildered by the Personality of Godhead’s enchanting, artful words, foolish Vṛka, without realizing what he was doing, placed his hand on his head.

Synonyms

• ittham: thus/in this manner
• ittham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• bhagavataḥ: of the Lord
• bhagavataḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• citraiḥ: wonderful/variegated
• citraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; qualifying vacobhiḥ

• vacobhiḥ: by words
• vacobhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• su-peśalaiḥ: very charming
• su-peśalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + peśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; कर्मधारय: ‘su-peśalaiḥ’ = ‘ati-peśalaiḥ’ qualifying vacobhiḥ

• bhinna-dhīḥ: confused in mind
• bhinna-dhīḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhinna (कृदन्त) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘bhinna dhīḥ’ = ‘one whose mind is confused/split’

• vismṛtaḥ: forgetful
• vismṛtaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘having forgotten/forgetful’

• śīrṣṇi: on (his) head
• śīrṣṇi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śīrṣan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• sva-hastam: his own hand
• sva-hastam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘svaḥ hastaḥ’

• kumatiḥ: the fool/evil-minded one
• kumatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; used as epithet of saḥ

• nyadhāt: placed
• nyadhāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person, Singular; prefix ni-; ‘placed’

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how Krishna defeats pride?

This verse shows that the Lord’s wonderfully crafted words can completely confound a person’s intelligence, making one forgetful and humbled—pride collapses when confronted with Bhagavān’s superior will and wisdom.

Why does the person put his hand on his head in this verse?

It is a gesture of bewilderment and self-reproach: overwhelmed by the Lord’s striking speech, he realizes his folly and becomes mentally disoriented, responding with a sign of shock and regret.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

When ego or certainty hardens the mind, remember that higher truth can overturn our assumptions; cultivate humility, pause before reacting, and be willing to admit error when confronted by wiser guidance.