Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

नमो मरकतश्यामवपुषेऽधिगतश्रिये । केशवाय नमस्तुभ्यं नमस्ते पीतवाससे ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

namo marakata-śyāma- vapuṣe ’dhigata-śriye keśavāya namas tubhyaṁ namas te pīta-vāsase

Translation

Hommage à Toi dont le corps sombre ressemble à la gemme marakata, Toi qui tiens Śrī (Lakṣmī) sous ton pouvoir. Ô Keśava, vêtu de jaune, je me prosterne.

Synonyms

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, salutation particle (नमस्कारार्थक)

• marakata-śyāma-vapuṣe: to (him) of emerald-dark form
• marakata-śyāma-vapuṣe: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marakata (प्रातिपदिक) + śyāma (प्रातिपदिक) + vapuṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) as vapuṣ, Dative (4th), Singular; Karmadhāraya: ‘emerald-dark body/form’

• adhigata-śriye: to (him) of attained splendor
• adhigata-śriye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhigata (कृदन्त; अधि+गम् धातु, क्त) + śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग) śrī, Dative (4th), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: adhigatā śrīḥ yasya = ‘to (him) whose fortune is attained/manifest’ (i.e., possessed of splendor)

• keśavāya: to Keśava
• keśavāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, salutation particle

• tubhyam: to you
• tubhyam: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (4th), Singular

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, salutation particle

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (4th), Singular

• pīta-vāsase: to (him) of the yellow garment
• pīta-vāsase: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīta (कृदन्त; पा धातु, क्त; ‘yellow’) + vāsas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter vāsas, Dative (4th), Singular; Karmadhāraya: ‘yellow garment’

Characters & Entities

• Aditi
• Keśava
• Viṣṇu
• Śrī (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering obeisances to Lord Vishnu?

This verse shows bhakti expressed through heartfelt namas—addressing Viṣṇu by His divine form and names (Keśava, pīta-vāsasa), indicating that remembrance and reverent surrender are central to devotion.

Why did Aditi say these prayers to Keśava in Canto 8 Chapter 16?

Aditi prays to Lord Viṣṇu seeking divine shelter for the devas; in this chapter the Lord responds to her devotion and agrees to appear as her son (leading into the Vāmana avatāra narrative).

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

Practice simple daily devotion—offer respectful obeisances, chant the Lord’s names, and remember His auspicious form—cultivating humility and reliance on divine guidance during difficulty.