Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

अन्ववर्तन्त यं देवा: श्रीश्च तत्पादपद्मयो: । स्पृहयन्त इवामोदं भगवान्मे प्रसीदताम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

anvavartanta yaṁ devāḥ śrīś ca tat-pāda-padmayoḥ spṛhayanta ivāmodaṁ bhagavān me prasīdatām

Translation

Para dewa dan Śrī (Lakṣmī) pun melayani kaki teratai-Nya, seakan merindukan harum semerbaknya. Semoga Bhagavān itu berkenan kepadaku.

Synonyms

• anvavartanta: followed/attended
• anvavartanta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); anu + ava + vṛt = ‘followed/attended’

• yam: whom
• yam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun, Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• śrīḥ: Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• śrīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• tat-pāda-padmayoḥ: at his lotus feet
• tat-pāda-padmayoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter padma, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन); Tatpuruṣa chain: tasya pāda-padme = ‘in/at his lotus-feet’

• spṛhayantaḥ: desiring/longing
• spṛhayantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: spṛh (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamana marker (उपमासूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle of comparison (उपमार्थक)

• āmodam: fragrance/joy
• āmodam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āmoda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• me: my/to me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (enclitic)

• prasīdatām: may (he) be gracious
• prasīdatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√sad (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada; benedictive sense: ‘may he be pleased’

Characters & Entities

• Aditi
• Vishnu
• Lakshmi
• Devas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pleasing Lord Vishnu through prayer?

This verse shows Aditi praying for the Lord’s mercy, glorifying Him as the one followed by the devas and served by Lakṣmī—teaching that sincere stuti and surrender are powerful ways to seek His pleasure.

Why does Aditi mention Lakshmi at Vishnu’s lotus feet?

Aditi highlights the Lord’s supreme position: even Śrī (Lakṣmī), the goddess of fortune, remains at His lotus feet, indicating that all auspiciousness and fulfillment rest in devotion to Him.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Cultivate humility and steadiness in devotion—seek inner “fortune” (peace, clarity, virtue) by placing life’s goals at the Lord’s feet rather than chasing temporary gains.