Shloka 4

The Kingdom of God (Vaikuṇṭha) and the Curse of Jaya and Vijaya

Devanagari script

देवदेव जगद्धातर्लोकनाथशिखामणे । परेषामपरेषां त्वं भूतानामसि भाववित् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

deva-deva jagad-dhātar lokanātha-śikhāmaṇe pareṣām apareṣāṁ tvaṁ bhūtānām asi bhāva-vit

Translation

O god of the gods, sustainer of the universe, crest-jewel among the lords of the worlds: you know the intentions of all beings, in both the spiritual and the material realms.

Synonyms

• देवदेव: O God of gods
• देवदेव: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (appositional: 'god of gods'); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जगद्धातः: O sustainer of the universe
• जगद्धातः: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (of the world + supporter/creator); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लोकनाथशिखामणे: O crest-jewel of the lords of the worlds
• लोकनाथशिखामणे: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + नाथ + शिखामणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative chain: 'crest-jewel among the lords of the worlds'); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परेषाम्: of the higher ones
• परेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अपरेषाम्: of the lower ones
• अपरेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भूतानाम्: of beings
• भूतानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• असि: are
• असि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• भाववित्: knower of (their) states/intentions
• भाववित्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (भावं वेत्ति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; त्वम् इत्यस्य विधेय (predicate nominative)

Purport

Because Brahmā is almost on an equal footing with the Personality of Godhead, he is addressed here as the god of the demigods, and because he is the secondary creator of this universe, he is addressed as the sustainer of the universe. He is the head of all the demigods, and therefore he is addressed here as the head jewel of the demigods. It is not difficult for him to understand everything which is happening in both the spiritual and material worlds. He knows everyone’s heart and everyone’s intentions. Therefore he was requested to explain this incident. Why was the pregnancy of Diti causing such anxieties all over the universe?

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa)
• The four Kumāras

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about God knowing our intentions?

This verse addresses Lord Viṣṇu as bhāvavit—He knows the inner disposition and intentions of all beings, whether elevated or ordinary.

Why did the four Kumāras praise Lord Viṣṇu in Canto 3 Chapter 15?

After being checked at Vaikuṇṭha’s gate, the Kumāras approach the Lord and glorify Him as the supreme ruler and the knower of everyone’s inner nature, acknowledging His perfect understanding of all situations.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Practice sincerity: focus on inner intention rather than mere appearance, remembering that the Divine is described here as the knower of the heart.