Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 40

The Disappearance of the Yadu Dynasty and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Departure

Devanagari script

इत्यादिष्टो भगवता कृष्णेनेच्छाशरीरिणा । त्रि: परिक्रम्य तं नत्वा विमानेन दिवं ययौ ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

ity ādiṣṭo bhagavatā kṛṣṇenecchā-śarīriṇā triḥ parikramya taṁ natvā vimānena divaṁ yayau

Translation

Ainsi instruit par le Seigneur Suprême Śrī Kṛṣṇa, qui revêt Son corps transcendantal par Sa seule volonté, le chasseur fit trois fois le tour du Seigneur et se prosterna. Puis il s’en alla dans un vimāna divin apparu pour le conduire au ciel spirituel, Vaikuṇṭha.

Synonyms

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ādiṣṭaḥ: having been instructed
• ādiṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (subject described)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-diś (धातु) → ādiṣṭa (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having been instructed/ordered’

• bhagavatā: by the Lord
• bhagavatā: Karaṇa (करण) / Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kṛṣṇena: by Krishna
• kṛṣṇena: Karaṇa (करण) / Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive (apposition to bhagavatā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• icchā-śarīriṇā: by him whose body is (assumed) by will
• icchā-śarīriṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: icchā (प्रातिपदिक) + śarīrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः ‘इच्छया शरीरं यस्य’ (one whose body is by will) used as epithet of Kṛṣṇa

• triḥ: thrice
• triḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: triḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय (numeral adverb)

• parikramya: having circumambulated
• parikramya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-kram (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/absolutive), ‘having circumambulated’

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• natvā: having bowed
• natvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having bowed’

• vimānena: by an aerial chariot
• vimānena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• divam: to heaven
• divam: Karma (कर्म) (goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘heaven/sky’

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Dāruka

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by Krishna having a body 'by His own will' (iccha-shariri)?

This verse states that Krishna’s embodiment is not forced by karma; He manifests a form by His own divine will for His līlā and to guide His devotees.

Why did Dāruka circumambulate Krishna three times and offer obeisances?

After receiving the Lord’s direct instruction, Dāruka honored Krishna with traditional acts of devotion—three circumambulations and prostrated obeisance—before departing.

What is the practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Receive guidance with humility, show gratitude to the Divine through respectful devotional actions, and remember that God is not limited by material conditions.