Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 8

The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the Aftermath in Dvārakā

Devanagari script

देवादयो ब्रह्ममुख्या न विशन्तं स्वधामनि । अविज्ञातगतिं कृष्णं दद‍ृशुश्चातिविस्मिता: ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

devādayo brahma-mukhyā na viśantaṁ sva-dhāmani avijñāta-gatiṁ kṛṣṇaṁ dadṛśuś cāti-vismitāḥ

Translation

Most of the demigods and higher beings led by Brahmā could not see Lord Kṛṣṇa as He entered His own abode, for He did not disclose His course. Yet some did behold Him, and they were struck with profound amazement.

Synonyms

• देव-आदयः: the gods and others
• देव-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘देवाः आदयः’ = ‘the gods and others’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ब्रह्म-मुख्याः: headed by Brahma
• ब्रह्म-मुख्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘ब्रह्मा मुख्यः येषाम्’/‘ब्रह्मा-प्रमुखाः’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (qualifying ‘देव-आदयः’)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• विशन्तम्: entering
• विशन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; (qualifying ‘कृष्णम्’)

• स्व-धामनि: in his own abode
• स्व-धामनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (‘स्वं धाम’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी, एकवचन

• अविज्ञात-गतिम्: whose destination was unknown / of unknown course
• अविज्ञात-गतिम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविज्ञात (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा धातु, नञ्-पूर्वक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘अविज्ञाता गतिः यस्य’ as adjective to Krishna; formally ‘अविज्ञाता’ + ‘गतिः’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; (agreeing with ‘गतिम्’ as head; qualifying ‘कृष्णम्’)

• कृष्णम्: Krishna
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ददृशुः: they saw
• ददृशुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अति-विस्मिताः: very astonished
• अति-विस्मिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + विस्मित (कृदन्त; √स्मि/√स्मृ?; here from √स्मि ‘to wonder’ in sense ‘astonished’)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (‘अति’ + ‘विस्मित’ = ‘very astonished’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (predicate adjective of ‘देव-आदयः’)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Brahmā

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna returning to His own abode (sva-dhama)?

This verse states that even the demigods headed by Brahmā did not witness or comprehend the exact manner of Kṛṣṇa entering His own abode, highlighting the transcendental nature of His departure.

Why were Brahma and the demigods astonished at Krishna’s departure?

Because Kṛṣṇa’s destination and the way He left were beyond their ability to perceive; His movements are fully independent and transcendental, not subject to ordinary cosmic observation.

Practical application: what does this verse teach a devotee today?

It teaches humility before the Lord’s inconceivable potency and encourages bhakti—trusting Kṛṣṇa’s supreme position even when His ways are beyond intellectual understanding.