Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 32

Devas in Dvārakā, Brahmā’s Petition, and Uddhava’s Appeal

Prabhāsa Departure Set-Up

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्युक्तो लोकनाथेन स्वयम्भू: प्रणिपत्य तम् । सह देवगणैर्देव: स्वधाम समपद्यत ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca ity ukto loka-nāthena svayam-bhūḥ praṇipatya tam saha deva-gaṇair devaḥ sva-dhāma samapadyata

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus addressed by the Lord of the universe, the self-born Brahmā fell down in obeisances at the lotus feet of the Lord. Surrounded by all the demigods, the great Brahmā then returned to his personal abode.

Synonyms

• श्रीशुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्रीशुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (श्रीमान् शुकः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वक्ता

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: having been spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having been addressed/said to’

• लोकनाथेन: by the Lord of the world
• लोकनाथेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: लोकस्य नाथः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (agent/instrument in passive)

• स्वयम्भूः: Svayambhū (Brahmā)
• स्वयम्भूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम् + भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (स्वयमेव भूः/भवति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed
• प्रणिपत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नि-पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund): ‘having bowed down’

• तम्: to him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of praṇipatya)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka-dyotaka (सहकारक-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable: ‘together with’), तृतीया-सहयोगी

• देवगणैः: with the groups of gods
• देवगणैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (देवानां गणाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; सह-योग (with the hosts of gods)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्ता (apposition to svayambhūḥ)

• स्वधाम: his own abode
• स्वधाम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य धाम); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of samapadyata)

• समपद्यत: returned/attained
• समपद्यत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आपद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), आत्मनेपद; तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Lokanātha (Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the worlds)
• Svayambhū (Brahmā)
• Devas (demigods)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.32 say about Brahmā’s relationship with Kṛṣṇa?

It shows Brahmā (Svayambhū) receiving instruction from Kṛṣṇa, offering obeisances to Him, and departing—highlighting Kṛṣṇa as the Lord of all worlds, even for the highest created deity.

Why did Brahmā bow down to the Lord (Lokanātha) in this verse?

Because he had been addressed and instructed by the Supreme Lord; Brahmā responds in proper Vedic etiquette—submission and reverence to the ultimate authority.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

It teaches humility and obedience to divine guidance: even the greatest position bows to the Supreme, so a seeker should cultivate respect, surrender, and readiness to follow spiritual instruction.