Shloka 3

Śrī-nivāsa: Traits and Conditions for the Abode of Prosperity (श्री-निवासः)

Devanagari script

नारायणस्याड्कगतां ज्वलन्तीं दृष्टवा श्रियं पच्मसमानवर्णाम्‌ । कौतूहलाद्‌ विस्मितचारुनेत्रा पप्रच्छ माता मकरध्वजस्य

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca |

nārāyaṇasyāṅkagatāṃ jvalantīṃ dṛṣṭvā śriyaṃ padmasamānavarṇām |

kautūhalād vismitacārunetrā papraccha mātā makaradhvajasya ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Seeing Śrī (Lakṣmī)—radiant and glowing, lotus-hued—seated upon Nārāyaṇa’s lap, Rukmiṇī, the mother of Makaradhvaja, opened her beautiful eyes wide in wonder. Moved by curiosity, she questioned Lakṣmī.

Word by Word

• नारायणस्य: of Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अङ्क-गताम्: seated on (his) lap
• अङ्क-गताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्कगत
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ज्वलन्तीम्: shining, blazing
• ज्वलन्तीम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलत्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• श्रियम्: Śrī (Lakṣmī), prosperity
• श्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• पद्म-समाना-वर्णाम्: having a complexion like a lotus
• पद्म-समाना-वर्णाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्मसमानवर्ण
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कौतूहलात्: out of curiosity
• कौतूहलात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौतूहल
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• विस्मित-चारु-नेत्रा: she whose lovely eyes were widened in amazement
• विस्मित-चारु-नेत्रा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मितचारुनेत्र
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), Third, Singular

• माता: the mother
• माता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• मकर-ध्वजस्य: of Makara-dhvaja (Kāma); i.e., of Pradyumna
• मकर-ध्वजस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मकरध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Nārāyaṇa
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• Rukmiṇī
• Makaradhvaja
• Padma (lotus)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights reverent inquiry: when confronted with divine splendor and auspicious power (Śrī with Nārāyaṇa), one should respond not with arrogance or dismissal but with humble curiosity aimed at understanding dharmic and sacred truth.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma narrates that Rukmiṇī, seeing Lakṣmī shining and seated on Nārāyaṇa’s lap, becomes astonished; her eyes brighten with wonder, and she asks Lakṣmī a question prompted by curiosity.