Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 23

Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi and the Lord’s Unlimited Incarnations

Devanagari script

एवंविधानि कर्माणि जन्मानि च जगत्पते: । भूरीणि भूरियशसो वर्णितानि महाभुज ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ-vidhāni janmāni karmāṇi ca jagat-pateḥ bhūrīṇi bhūri-yaśaso varṇitāni mahā-bhuja

Translation

हे महाबाहु राजन्, जगत्पती भगवंतांचे असेच असंख्य अवतार व लीला आहेत; त्यांच्या अनंत यशाचे वर्णन अपरिमित आहे.

Synonyms

• evaṁ-vidhāni: such
• evaṁ-vidhāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: evaṁ (अव्यय) + vidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva “of such a kind”; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural; qualifying karmāṇi/janmāni

• karmāṇi: deeds
• karmāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• janmāni: births/incarnations
• janmāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय)

• jagat-pateḥ: of the Lord of the universe
• jagat-pateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (जगतः पतिः); Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bhūrīṇi: many
• bhūrīṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural; qualifying karmāṇi/janmāni

• bhūri-yaśasaḥ: of great glory
• bhūri-yaśasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūri (प्रातिपदिक) + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa “of great fame”; Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठī), Singular; qualifying jagat-pateḥ

• varṇitāni: described
• varṇitāni: Kriyā (क्रिया-विशेष्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varṇ (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Bhūta-kṛdanta (past passive participle/क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural; predicate “described”

• mahā-bhuja: O mighty-armed one
• mahā-bhuja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya vocative: “great-armed”; Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Purport

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Eleventh Canto, Fourth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Drumila Explains the Incarnations of Godhead to King Nimi.”

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Jagatpati
• Nimi

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kṛṣṇa’s births and pastimes being innumerable?

This verse states that the Lord of the universe has many divine appearances and activities, and that His unlimited fame is described in countless ways.

Why does Kṛṣṇa say this to King Nimi in Canto 11 Chapter 4?

In the dialogue with Nimi, Kṛṣṇa emphasizes that the Lord’s līlās and incarnations are vast and endlessly glorified, reinforcing the devotional focus on hearing and remembering the Lord’s deeds.

Practical application: how can I use this teaching in modern life?

Regularly hear, read, and recount the Lord’s pastimes (Bhāgavatam study, kīrtana, smaraṇa), understanding that divine qualities and līlās are inexhaustible and purify the heart through repeated remembrance.