Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 62

Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तस्तं परिक्रम्य प्रणम्य च नृपार्भक: । ययौ मधुवनं पुण्यं हरेश्चरणचर्चितम् ॥ ६२ ॥

Transliteration

ity uktas taṁ parikramya praṇamya ca nṛpārbhakaḥ yayau madhuvanaṁ puṇyaṁ hareś caraṇa-carcitam

Translation

Ainsi instruit par le sage Nārada, le prince Dhruva fit la circumambulation de son maître, se prosterna avec respect, puis partit vers le saint Madhuvana, sanctifié par les empreintes de lotus de Hari.

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणचिह्न (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: having been told/addressed
• उक्तः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘इत्युक्तः’ = thus addressed/spoken to

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परिक्रम्य: having circumambulated
• परिक्रम्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-क्रम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष) ल्यप्; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having circumambulated)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) ल्यप्; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having bowed)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• नृपार्भकः: the prince (king’s boy)
• नृपार्भकः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + अर्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (नृपस्य अर्भकः = राजकुमारः)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• मधुवनम्: to Madhuvana (the honey-grove)
• मधुवनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मधोः/मधुनः वनम्)

• पुण्यम्: holy, sacred
• पुण्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying मधुवनम्)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चरणचर्चितम्: frequented by (His) feet
• चरणचर्चितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चरण + चर्चित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (चरणैः चर्चितम् = feet-trodden/visited)

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva
• Nārada
• Hari

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about going to a holy place for bhajana?

This verse shows Dhruva leaving for sacred Madhuvana—described as purified by Lord Hari’s lotus feet—indicating that holy places support focused devotion and remembrance of the Lord.

Why did Dhruva circumambulate and offer obeisances to Nārada?

Because Nārada was his spiritual guide; Dhruva honored him with pranāma and parikramā before acting on the instructions for devotional practice.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Receive guidance from authentic devotees/teachers, show humility and gratitude, and then commit to a dedicated environment (time/place/routine) that strengthens steady spiritual practice.