Shloka 44

Devanagari script

नम: प्रमाणमूलाय कवये शास्त्रयोनये । प्रवृत्ताय निवृत्ताय निगमाय नमो नम: ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

namaḥ pramāṇa-mūlāya kavaye śāstra-yonaye pravṛttāya nivṛttāya nigamāya namo namaḥ

Translation

നിനക്കു വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും നമസ്കാരം—നീ സർവ്വ പ്രമാണങ്ങളുടെ മൂലാധാരം, കവി-സ്വരൂപനായ കർത്താവും ശാസ്ത്രങ്ങളുടെ പരമ ഉറവിടവും ആകുന്നു. വേദങ്ങളിൽ നീ പ്രവൃത്തി-നിവൃത്തി എന്ന ഇരുവഴികളായും പ്രത്യക്ഷമായി ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു.

Synonyms

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle); नमस्कारार्थक

• प्रमाणमूलाय: to the source of all pramāṇas (means of knowledge)
• प्रमाणमूलाय: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रमाणानां मूलम् = root/source of valid means of knowledge)

• कवये: to the seer/poet (sage)
• कवये: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• शास्त्रयोनये: to the source of the scriptures
• शास्त्रयोनये: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शास्त्राणां योनिः = womb/source of scriptures)

• प्रवृत्ताय: to the one engaged (in worldly activity)
• प्रवृत्ताय: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवृत्त (√वृत् + प्र, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) विशेषणम्

• निवृत्ताय: to the one withdrawn (from activity)
• निवृत्ताय: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निवृत्त (√वृत् + नि, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्

• निगमाय: to the Veda / authoritative revelation
• निगमाय: सम्प्रदान (चतुर्थी/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• नमो: salutation
• नमो: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘नमः’ इत्यस्य पदान्त-रूपम् (ओ-आदेशः)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle); पुनरुक्त-नमस्कार

Purport

If we did not have the powers of perception and cognition, evidence could not be transmitted, and if we had no tendency to believe in particular modes of evidence, persuasion could not take place. All of these processes — perception, cognition, persuasion and transmission — take place through the various potencies of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa is Himself the greatest scholar and intellectual being. He manifests the transcendental scriptures within the hearts of great devotees like Brahmā and Nārada, and in addition He incarnates as Vedavyāsa, the compiler of all Vedic knowledge. In multifarious ways the Lord generates a variety of religious scriptures, which gradually bring the conditioned souls through the various phases of reentry into the kingdom of God.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Kaliya

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being the source of the Vedas?

This verse praises Krishna as nigama—the very Vedas—and as śāstra-yonī, the origin of scripture, meaning all true revelation and spiritual knowledge ultimately rest in Him.

Why did the wives of Kaliya offer these prayers to Krishna?

Seeing Krishna punish Kāliya, they sought mercy for their husband and surrendered by glorifying Krishna’s supreme position as the ground of all knowledge and dharma.

Practical application of pravritti and nivritti in modern life?

Live responsibly through dharmic duties (pravṛtti) while cultivating inner detachment and devotion (nivṛtti), remembering that both are meant to lead one toward Krishna.