Shloka 20

Mahārāja Sagara, Kapila Muni, and the Deliverance of the Sixty Thousand Sons

Devanagari script

तत्रासीनं मुनिं वीक्ष्य कपिलाख्यमधोक्षजम् । अस्तौत् समाहितमना: प्राञ्जलि: प्रणतो महान् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

tatrāsīnaṁ muniṁ vīkṣya kapilākhyam adhokṣajam astaut samāhita-manāḥ prāñjaliḥ praṇato mahān

Translation

There he saw the sage Kapila—an incarnation of Adhokṣaja Viṣṇu—seated by the horse. The great Aṁśumān, with mind fully attentive, offered obeisances with folded hands and prayed.

Synonyms

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• āsīnam: sitting
• āsīnam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ās (आस् धातु) + āsīna (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मुनिम् इति विशेषणम्

• munim: the sage
• munim: Karma (कर्म/Object of vīkṣya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• vīkṣya: having seen
• vīkṣya: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (ईक्ष् धातु) + vi-
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having seen)

• kapila-ākhyam: named Kapila
• kapila-ākhyam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kapila (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/नामधारक: कपिल इति आख्या यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मुनिम् इति विशेषणम्

• adhokṣajam: Adhokṣaja (the transcendent Lord)
• adhokṣajam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhokṣaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; मुनिम् इति विशेषणरूपेण (epithet)

• astaut: praised
• astaut: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √stu (स्तु धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• samāhita-manāḥ: with concentrated mind
• samāhita-manāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā (धा धातु) + samāhita (कृदन्त) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: समाहितं मनः यस्य; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्

• prāñjaliḥ: with folded hands
• prāñjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāñjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (hands folded)

• praṇataḥ: bowed down
• praṇataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√nam (नम् धातु) + praṇata (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्

• mahān: great
• mahān: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Adhokṣaja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about approaching Kapila Muni?

This verse shows the proper approach: first behold the Lord’s presence, then offer respectful obeisances with folded hands and pray with a composed, attentive mind.

Why is Kapila called Adhokṣaja in the Bhagavatam?

Adhokṣaja means the Supreme Lord who is beyond the reach of material senses; the verse identifies Kapila not merely as a sage but as the transcendent Lord.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Before seeking guidance or spiritual insight, cultivate humility, quiet the mind, and approach with respect—listening and praying rather than demanding or arguing.