Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

द्वारेण चक्रानुपथेन तत्तम: परं परं ज्योतिरनन्तपारम् । समश्न‍ुवानं प्रसमीक्ष्य फाल्गुन: प्रताडिताक्षो पिदधेऽक्षिणी उभे ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

dvāreṇa cakrānupathena tat tamaḥ paraṁ paraṁ jyotir ananta-pāram samaśnuvānaṁ prasamīkṣya phālgunaḥ pratāḍitākṣo pidadhe ’kṣiṇī ubhe

Translation

Following the Sudarśana disc, the chariot passed through the gateway of darkness and reached the limitless supreme radiance—the all-pervading brahmajyoti. Beholding that blinding effulgence, Arjuna (Phālguna) felt pain in his eyes and closed them both.

Synonyms

• dvāreṇa: by/through the gate
• dvāreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• cakra-anupathena: by the path of the discus (Sudarśana)
• cakra-anupathena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + anupatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (cakrasya anupathaḥ)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (tamaḥ-विशेषण)

• tamaḥ: darkness
• tamaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• param: further
• param: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (degree: further)

• param: still further
• param: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (intensification)

• jyotiḥ: light
• jyotiḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyotis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ananta-pāram: of endless limit / boundless
• ananta-pāram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक) + pāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (anantaṃ pāraṃ yasya/tat)

• samaśnuvānam: attaining/experiencing
• samaśnuvānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√aś (अश् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रायः), परस्मैपद-धातु; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘attaining/experiencing’ अर्थे

• prasamīkṣya: having observed
• prasamīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-sam-√īkṣ (ईक्ष् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having clearly seen’

• phālgunaḥ: Phālguna (Arjuna)
• phālgunaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phālguna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्जुन-नाम

• pratāḍita-akṣaḥ: with eyes struck/afflicted
• pratāḍita-akṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratāḍita (कृदन्त; √tāḍ धातु) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारय-सदृशः (pratāḍitāni akṣīṇi yasya)

• pidadhe: covered/closed
• pidadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (pidadhe)

• akṣiṇī: (his) two eyes
• akṣiṇī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• ubhe: both
• ubhe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; akṣiṇī-विशेषण

Purport

After breaking through each of the eight concentric shells of the universe, the Sudarśana disc led Lord Kṛṣṇa’s chariot into the limitless, self-effulgent atmosphere of the spiritual sky. This journey by Lord Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna to Vaikuṇṭha is also narrated in Śrī Hari-vaṁśa, where the Lord is quoted as telling His companion:

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna (Phālguna)
• Sudarśana Cakra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about seeing the supreme light beyond darkness?

This verse describes Arjuna passing beyond profound darkness into an infinite, supreme radiance, indicating a realm beyond material perception where ordinary senses are overwhelmed.

Why did Arjuna close his eyes in Bhagavatam 10.89.51?

Arjuna’s eyes were overpowered by the intensity of the boundless divine effulgence he witnessed along the path associated with the Sudarśana disc, so he shut both eyes.

Practical application: what does this verse teach about spiritual experience in modern life?

It teaches humility about the limits of the senses and encourages a devotional approach—purifying perception through bhakti—rather than expecting the Divine to be grasped by ordinary sight.