Shloka 16

Ambarīṣa’s Prayers to Sudarśana and the Deliverance of Durvāsā

Devanagari script

यन्नामश्रुतिमात्रेण पुमान् भवति निर्मल: । तस्य तीर्थपद: किं वा दासानामवशिष्यते ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

yan-nāma-śruti-mātreṇa pumān bhavati nirmalaḥ tasya tīrtha-padaḥ kiṁ vā dāsānām avaśiṣyate

Translation

By merely hearing His holy name, a person becomes purified. Therefore, for the servants of the Lord—He who is the shelter of all holy places (Tīrtha-pada)—what could ever be impossible?

Synonyms

• यत्: whose
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative)

• नामश्रुतिमात्रेण: by mere hearing of (His) name
• नामश्रुतिमात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् + श्रुति + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—नाम-श्रुति-मात्र (तत्पुरुषः: ‘नाम्नः श्रुतिः’ + ‘मात्र’ = mere hearing of the name)

• पुमान्: a man, a person
• पुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवति: becomes
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• निर्मलः: pure
• निर्मलः: Pradhana (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him (of that Lord)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तीर्थपदः: the holy name/holy abode (lit. ‘holy-footing’)
• तीर्थपदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तीर्थ-पद (तत्पुरुषः: ‘तीर्थं पदं यस्य/तीर्थरूपं पदम्’)—भगवन्नाम

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्प/उपप्लव-निपात (particle: or/indeed)

• दासानाम्: of the servants (devotees)
• दासानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अवशिष्यते: remains, is left
• अवशिष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शिष् (धातु) उपसर्गः अव
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Śrī Hari/Vişṇu)
• Ambarīṣa Mahārāja
• Durvāsā Muni

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of hearing God's name?

This verse states that merely hearing the Lord’s name can purify a person, highlighting nāma-śravaṇa as a direct means of spiritual cleansing.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī glorify the Lord’s name in the Ambarīṣa–Durvāsā episode?

In this chapter, Ambarīṣa Mahārāja is protected by devotion to Hari; Śukadeva emphasizes that since the Lord’s name alone purifies, His devotees—His servants—lack nothing spiritually.

How can I apply nāma-śravaṇa (hearing the holy name) in modern life?

Regularly listen to sincere kīrtana, recitations of the Bhāgavatam, or the mahā-mantra with attention; even consistent hearing gradually purifies the mind and strengthens devotion.