Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 21

The Appearance of Vāmanadeva and His Arrival at Bali’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

तं नर्मदायास्तट उत्तरे बले- र्य ऋत्विजस्ते भृगुकच्छसंज्ञके । प्रवर्तयन्तो भृगव: क्रतूत्तमं व्यचक्षतारादुदितं यथा रविम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ narmadāyās taṭa uttare baler ya ṛtvijas te bhṛgukaccha-saṁjñake pravartayanto bhṛgavaḥ kratūttamaṁ vyacakṣatārād uditaṁ yathā ravim

Translation

Sur la rive nord de la Narmadā, dans le champ sacrificiel nommé Bhṛgukaccha, tandis que les prêtres descendants de Bhṛgu conduisaient le plus excellent des rites, ils virent Vāmanadeva tel un soleil se levant tout près.

Synonyms

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun referring to Vāmana

• narmadāyāḥ: of the Narmadā (river)
• narmadāyāḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narmadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• taṭe: on the bank
• taṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• uttare: northern
• uttare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; qualifying ‘taṭe’

• baleḥ: of Bali
• baleḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ye: who
• ye: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; relative pronoun

• ṛtvijaḥ: priests
• ṛtvijaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtvij (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• te: those
• te: Kartā (कर्ता) — apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; demonstrative pronoun

• bhṛgukaccha-saṁjñake: in the place called Bhṛgukaccha
• bhṛgukaccha-saṁjñake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛgukaccha (प्रातिपदिक) + saṁjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘bhṛgukaccha’ + ‘saṁjñaka’ (= named); qualifying the place (taṭe)

• pravartayantaḥ: conducting/causing to proceed
• pravartayantaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता) — participial action
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-vṛt (धातु) → pravartayant (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agreeing with ‘ṛtvijaḥ’

• bhṛgavaḥ: the Bhṛgus
• bhṛgavaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; in apposition to ‘ṛtvijaḥ’

• kratu-uttamam: the best sacrifice
• kratu-uttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kratu (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘uttamaḥ kratuḥ’

• vyacakṣata: saw/observed
• vyacakṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-cakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; parasmaipada

• ārāt: from nearby / close by
• ārāt: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ārāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय), of proximity

• uditam: risen
• uditam: Karma (कर्म) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-i (धातु) → udita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying ‘ravim’

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Upamāna-sūcaka (उपमानसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle of comparison (उपमा-वाचक अव्यय)

• ravim: the sun
• ravim: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Bali Mahārāja
• Vāmanadeva
• Bhṛgu (Bhṛgus)
• Narmadā

FAQs

Where did Vāmana appear in the Srimad Bhagavatam during Bali Mahārāja’s sacrifice?

He appeared at Bhṛgukaccha on the northern bank of the river Narmadā, where Bali’s Bhṛgu priests were conducting a great sacrifice.

Why is Vāmana’s arrival compared to the rising sun in this verse?

The comparison highlights the sudden, unmistakable, and awe-inspiring brilliance of the Lord’s manifestation—dispelling doubt just as sunrise dispels darkness.

How can this shloka be applied in modern devotional life?

It reminds seekers that sincere spiritual practice invites divine guidance—often arriving unexpectedly—so one should stay attentive, humble, and ready to respond with faith.