Shloka 36

Nārada Sees Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Yoga-māyā in the Palaces of the Queens

Dvāra-kā-līlā

Devanagari script

अव्यक्तलिङ्गं प्रकृतिष्वन्त:पुरगृहादिषु । क्व‍‍चिच्चरन्तं योगेशं तत्तद्भ‍ावबुभुत्सया ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

avyakta-lingaṁ prakṛtiṣv antaḥ-pura-gṛhādiṣu kvacic carantaṁ yogeśaṁ tat-tad-bhāva-bubhutsayā

Translation

എവിടെയോ യോഗേശ്വരനായ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ മറവേഷത്തിൽ മന്ത്രിമാരുടെയും മറ്റു പൗരന്മാരുടെയും വീടുകളിലും അന്തഃപുരങ്ങളിലും സഞ്ചരിച്ചു, ഓരോരുത്തരുടെയും ഉള്ളഭാവം അറിയാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു നിരീക്ഷിച്ചു।

Synonyms

• अव्यक्तलिङ्गम्: with unmanifest/disguised marks
• अव्यक्तलिङ्गम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त-लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; अव्यक्त + लिङ्ग)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास (अव्यक्तं लिङ्गं यस्य/अव्यक्तलिङ्गः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; योगेशम् इति विशेषण

• प्रकृतिषु: among (his) natures/roles
• प्रकृतिषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), बहुवचन

• अन्तःपुरगृहादिषु: in inner apartments, houses, and the like
• अन्तःपुरगृहादिषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तःपुर-गृह-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; अन्तःपुर + गृह + आदि)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (antaḥpura, gṛha, ādi), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; प्रकृतिषु इति विशेषणार्थे ‘in places like...’

• क्वचित्: somewhere
• क्वचित्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनिश्चित-स्थान/कालवाचक

• चरन्तम्: moving about
• चरन्तम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चरत् (कृदन्त, √चर् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; योगेशम् इति विशेषण

• योगेशम्: the Lord of yoga
• योगेशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग-ईश (प्रातिपदिक; योग + ईश)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (योगस्य ईशः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगे ‘that and that’ (correlative)

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति

• भावबुभुत्सया: out of a desire to understand each (particular) state
• भावबुभुत्सया: करण/हेतु (Karaṇa/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव-बुभुत्सा (प्रातिपदिक; भाव + बुभुत्सा)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तत्तद्भावस्य बुभुत्सा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ (by reason of)

Purport

Although Lord Kṛṣṇa is all-knowing, while executing His pastimes as a typical monarch He sometimes traveled about incognito to acquire necessary information about His kingdom.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being 'Yogeśa' (master of mystic power)?

This verse calls Kṛṣṇa “Yogeśa,” indicating that although He appears to move about like an ordinary person within homes and inner chambers, His position as the supreme controller and master of all mystic potency remains unchanged.

Why does the Bhagavatam describe Krishna as 'avyakta-liṅga' (not outwardly recognized)?

The verse highlights that Kṛṣṇa’s divinity is not always obvious to external vision; He can conceal His supreme identity while participating in humanlike household pastimes, inviting devotees to understand Him through devotion and attentive hearing.

Practical application: How can a devotee learn from Krishna’s hidden divinity in daily activities?

By remembering that the Divine can be present within ordinary routines, a devotee can cultivate steady bhakti—seeing sacred purpose in daily duties and seeking to understand the Lord’s will through scripture, prayer, and mindful conduct.