Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 30
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana
नमस्ते वासुदेवाय नम: सङ्कर्षणाय च । प्रद्युम्नायानिरुद्धाय तुभ्यं भगवते नम: ॥ २९ ॥ नारायणाय ऋषये पुरुषाय महात्मने । विश्वेश्वराय विश्वाय सर्वभूतात्मने नम: ॥ ३० ॥
namas te vāsudevāya namaḥ saṅkarṣaṇāya ca pradyumnāyāniruddhāya tubhyaṁ bhagavate namaḥ
Obeisances to You, O Supreme Lord Vāsudeva, and to Your forms Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. O Bhagavān, Supreme Personality of Godhead, I bow to You again and again. O Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, O Mahāpuruṣa, Lord of the universe, the universe itself, and the Supersoul within all beings—unto You be my homage.
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that although Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared at the end of Dvāpara-yuga, great sages chanted this verse from the beginning of that age in expectation of His appearance.
FAQs
They are the Lord’s celebrated fourfold manifestations (catur-vyūha), honored here as divine forms of the one Bhagavān, worshiped through distinct names and functions.
While instructing about the Supreme Lord and pure devotion, Nārada glorifies the Lord’s personal expansions to establish worship of Bhagavān as the ultimate shelter.
By regularly offering respectful salutations to the Lord and remembering His names and forms, one strengthens devotion and keeps the mind anchored in divine remembrance.