Shloka 12

Bhṛgu Tests the Trimūrti; Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Visit Mahā-Viṣṇu and Recover the Brāhmaṇa’s Sons

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं ब्रुवाणे वैकुण्ठे भृगुस्तन्मन्द्रया गिरा । निर्वृतस्तर्पितस्तूष्णीं भक्त्युत्कण्ठोऽश्रुलोचन: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ bruvāṇe vaikuṇṭhe bhṛgus tan-mandrayā girā nirvṛtas tarpitas tūṣṇīṁ bhakty-utkaṇṭho ’śru-locanaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Hearing the grave words spoken by Lord Vaikuṇṭha, Bhṛgu became satisfied and delighted. Overwhelmed by devotional ecstasy, he remained silent, his eyes brimming with tears.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्रीमान् शुकः)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• evam: thus
• evam: Prakara (प्रकार/how)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• bruvāṇe: while (he) was speaking
• bruvāṇe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्/Present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘while (he) was speaking’

• vaikuṇṭhe: in Vaikuṇṭha
• vaikuṇṭhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/in)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaikuṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• bhṛguḥ: Bhṛgu
• bhṛguḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• tat-mandrayā: with that gentle
• tat-mandrayā: Karana (करण/with)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + mandra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः ‘with that gentle (voice)’ (तया मन्द्रया)

• girā: speech, voice
• girā: Karana (करण/with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gir (गिर् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• nirvṛtaḥ: satisfied, delighted
• nirvṛtaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण of Bhṛgu)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirvṛta (√vṛt/√vṛ dhatu with nir-, क्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally)

• tarpitaḥ: gratified
• tarpitaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण of Bhṛgu)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tarpita (√tṛp/तृप् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• tūṣṇīm: silently
• tūṣṇīm: Prakara (प्रकार/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tūṣṇīm (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb ‘silently’)

• bhakti-utkaṇṭhaḥ: eager with devotion
• bhakti-utkaṇṭhaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण of Bhṛgu)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + utkaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तेः उत्कण्ठा यस्य/भक्त्या उत्कण्ठः)

• aśru-locanaḥ: with tearful eyes
• aśru-locanaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण of Bhṛgu)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśru (प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (अश्रूणि लोचने यस्य = whose eyes are tearful)

Purport

Bhṛgu could not offer the Lord any words of praise because his throat was choking with tears of ecstasy. In the opinion of Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the sage should not be condemned for his offensive behavior, since his role in this transcendental pastime was arranged by the Personality of Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Vaikuṇṭha (Lord Viṣṇu)
• Bhṛgu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the signs of genuine devotion (bhakti)?

This verse shows that sincere devotion can manifest as deep inner longing for the Lord and tears in the eyes, arising naturally when the heart is softened by the Lord’s grace.

Why did Bhṛgu become silent and tearful when Vaikuṇṭha spoke to him?

Vaikuṇṭha’s gentle, soothing words fully satisfied Bhṛgu, dissolving agitation and awakening devotional yearning, so Bhṛgu stood silent with tearful eyes.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life when I feel anger or conflict?

Responding with calm, respectful speech—like Vaikuṇṭha—can pacify tension and transform the mood; it invites reflection, humility, and a more devotional or values-centered response.