Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 3

Arjuna’s Lament, the End of the Yadus, and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure

Devanagari script

कृच्छ्रेण संस्तभ्य शुच: पाणिनामृज्य नेत्रयो: । परोक्षेण समुन्नद्धप्रणयौत्कण्ठ्यकातर: ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

kṛcchreṇa saṁstabhya śucaḥ pāṇināmṛjya netrayoḥ parokṣeṇa samunnaddha- praṇayautkaṇṭhya-kātaraḥ

Translation

मोठ्या कष्टाने त्याने शोकाचे अश्रू आवरले आणि हातांनी डोळे पुसले. श्रीकृष्ण दृष्टीआड असल्याने वाढत्या प्रेम-उत्कंठेने तो अत्यंत व्याकुळ झाला.

Synonyms

• कृच्छ्रेण: with difficulty
• कृच्छ्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (instrumental of manner)

• संस्तभ्य: having restrained
• संस्तभ्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √स्तम्भ् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• शुचः: sorrows/grief
• शुचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुच्/शुचा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (or प्रथमा बहुवचन by form; here object: sorrows)

• पाणिना: with (his) hand
• पाणिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आमृज्य: having wiped
• आमृज्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √मृज् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• नेत्रयोः: from (his) two eyes
• नेत्रयोः: Apadana (अपादान/वियोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/genitive), द्विवचन

• परोक्षेण: due to (his) being out of sight
• परोक्षेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेतौ/निमित्ते (instrumental of cause)

• समुन्नद्धप्रणयौत्कण्ठ्यकातरः: distressed by intense affectionate longing
• समुन्नद्धप्रणयौत्कण्ठ्यकातरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुन्नद्ध (कृदन्त; सम्+उद्+√नह् + क्त) + प्रणय + उत्कण्ठ्या + कातर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: समुन्नद्धं प्रणय-उत्कण्ठ्यं येन सः कातरः (intensified affectionate longing causing distress)

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about devotion in separation from Krishna?

This verse shows that when Kṛṣṇa is out of sight, a devotee’s love can intensify into autkaṇṭhya—painful longing—revealing deep, intimate devotion.

Why is Yudhishthira overwhelmed with grief in Canto 1 Chapter 15?

Because Śrī Kṛṣṇa is no longer present before him; the Lord’s absence triggers a surge of affectionate attachment and separation-anxiety.

How can this teaching be applied in modern spiritual life?

When you feel distance from God, channel that pain into sincere remembrance, prayer, and steady practice rather than discouragement—longing can deepen devotion.