Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 29

Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava

Devanagari script

नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते पुरुषाय महीयसे । सर्वभूतनिवासाय वासुदेवाय साक्षिणे ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

namas tubhyaṁ bhagavate puruṣāya mahīyase sarva-bhūta-nivāsāya vāsudevāya sākṣiṇe

Translation

Ô Bhagavān Vāsudeva, Purusha suprême et très glorieux, Toi qui demeures dans le cœur de tous et en qui tous demeurent, Témoin de tout, je T’offre mes respectueuses prosternations.

Synonyms

• नमः: salutations
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (salutatory particle)

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वलिङ्ग-प्रयोग (pronoun); चतुर्थी विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भगवते: to the Blessed Lord
• भगवते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); चतुर्थी विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• पुरुषाय: to the Supreme Person
• पुरुषाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महीयसे: (you) are greatly honored / are great
• महीयसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); आत्मनेपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; धातु-प्रयोग: मह् → महीयते/महीयसे (to be honored/greatened in honor)

• सर्वभूतनिवासाय: to the abode of all beings
• सर्वभूतनिवासाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भूत-निवास (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + भूत + निवास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): सर्वेषां भूतानां निवासः

• वासुदेवाय: to Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• साक्षिणे: to the witness
• साक्षिणे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (in-stem)

Characters & Entities

• Aditi
• Vasudeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about God as the witness in the heart (sākṣī)?

This verse addresses Vāsudeva as sākṣī—the inner witness—affirming that the Lord observes all and resides within every being as the indwelling Supersoul (Paramātmā).

Why did Aditi offer obeisances to Vāsudeva in Canto 8 Chapter 16?

Aditi prays to the Supreme Lord for divine shelter and help for the devas; she begins by glorifying Him as the Supreme Person who dwells in all beings and witnesses all actions.

Practical application: how can I remember Vāsudeva as the indwelling Lord in modern life?

Before acting or speaking, pause and recall that the Lord is the inner witness in all hearts; this fosters humility, self-restraint, and steady devotion.