Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

नमस्त आदिदेवाय साक्षिभूताय ते नम: । नारायणाय ऋषये नराय हरये नम: ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

namas ta ādi-devāya sākṣi-bhūtāya te namaḥ nārāyaṇāya ṛṣaye narāya haraye namaḥ

Translation

原初の主、万人の心の証人なる御方よ、あなたに敬礼します。人の姿で現れたナラ・ナーラーヤナ仙なるナーラーヤナ、ハリに敬礼します。

Synonyms

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

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

• ādi-devāya: to the primeval Lord
• ādi-devāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: ādiḥ devaḥ = ‘the first god’

• sākṣi-bhūtāya: to the witness (present as witness)
• sākṣi-bhūtāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sākṣin (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त; भू धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; Tatpuruṣa: sākṣī-bhūtaḥ = ‘become/being a witness’ (witness-being)

• te: to you
• te: 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 (नमस्कारार्थक)

• nārāyaṇāya: to Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• ṛṣaye: to the sage
• ṛṣaye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• narāya: to Nara
• narāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular (Vedic/archaic dative ending -āya shortened to -āya/-ā)

• haraye: to Hari
• haraye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

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

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa
• Nara
• Hari

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Vishnu as the witness (sākṣī) in the heart?

This verse addresses Viṣṇu as sākṣibhūta—the ever-present inner Witness who sees all actions and intentions, emphasizing His omniscience and nearness to every living being.

Why did Aditi offer obeisances to Nara and Nārāyaṇa in Canto 8 Chapter 16?

Aditi prays to Viṣṇu for divine protection and deliverance for the devas; she glorifies Him through His revered manifestation as Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, honoring His ascetic, protective, and compassionate aspect.

Practical application of surrender to Hari in modern life according to this shloka?

Remember the Lord as the inner Witness, offer respectful prayer, and align daily choices with dharma—trusting Hari to remove obstacles and purify one’s intentions through sincere devotion.