Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

अजानता कृतमिदं पापेन मधुसूदन । क्षन्तुमर्हसि पापस्य उत्तम:श्लोक मेऽनघ ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

ajānatā kṛtam idaṁ pāpena madhusūdana kṣantum arhasi pāpasya uttamaḥśloka me ’nagha

Translation

जरा म्हणाला: हे मधुसूदना, अज्ञानामुळे माझ्या हातून हे पाप घडले आहे. हे उत्तमश्लोका, हे निष्पाप प्रभू, या पाप्याला क्षमा करा.

Synonyms

• ajānātā: unknowingly (by one unaware)
• ajānātā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + jñā (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) ‘जानत्’ with नञ्-प्रत्यय (a-); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘अजानता’ = ‘by one not knowing’

• kṛtam: done, committed
• kṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘कृत’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; here predicate/thing done

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pāpena: by sin
• pāpena: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-भावः

• madhusūdana: O slayer of Madhu
• madhusūdana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu + sūdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मधुं सूदयति इति)

• kṣantum: to forgive
• kṣantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/अनन्तरक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣam (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (Infinitive); अव्ययभावः; ‘क्षमितुम्’

• arhasi: you ought (to), you are worthy
• arhasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपदी; मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• pāpasya: of the sin
• pāpasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• uttamaḥ-śloka: O best-praised Lord
• uttamaḥ-śloka: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttama + śloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (उत्तमः श्लोकः यस्य/उत्तम-श्लोकः)

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; enclitic pronoun

• anagha: O sinless one
• anagha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; विशेषण-रूपेण संबोधन

Characters & Entities

• Krishna (Madhusūdana, Uttamaḥ-śloka)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about asking Krishna for forgiveness?

This verse shows a devotee approaching Krishna with humility—admitting wrongdoing done in ignorance and begging the sinless Lord (Anagha) for pardon.

Why did Dāruka pray like this to Krishna in Canto 11 Chapter 30?

In the emotionally intense events surrounding the Lord’s winding up of His earthly pastimes, Dāruka expresses remorse and helplessness, taking shelter of Krishna’s mercy as the only remedy.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Admit mistakes without excuses, recognize ignorance as a cause of harm, and sincerely seek forgiveness—along with correcting one’s actions—by taking shelter of God and cultivating humility.