Shloka 21

Akrūra’s Prayers (Akrūra-stuti): The Lord as Cause of Causes, Virāṭ, and the Goal of All Paths

Devanagari script

नमस्ते वासुदेवाय नम: सङ्कर्षणाय च । प्रद्युम्नायनिरुद्धाय सात्वतां पतये नम: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

namas te vāsudevāya namaḥ saṅkarṣaṇāya ca pradyumnāyaniruddhāya sātvatāṁ pataye namaḥ

Translation

Sembah sujud kepada Vāsudeva; sembah sujud kepada Saṅkarṣaṇa; kepada Pradyumna dan Aniruddha; sembah sujud kepada Tuhan, Penguasa kaum Sātvata.

Synonyms

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), salutation particle

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• vāsudevāya: to Vāsudeva
• vāsudevāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), salutation particle

• saṅkarṣaṇāya: to Saṅkarṣaṇa
• saṅkarṣaṇāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkarṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• pradyumnāya: to Pradyumna
• pradyumnāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradyumna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• aniruddhāya: to Aniruddha
• aniruddhāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aniruddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• sātvatām: of the Sātvatas
• sātvatām: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sātvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pataye: to the lord
• pataye: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), salutation particle

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Krishna)
• Saṅkarṣaṇa (Balarama)
• Pradyumna
• Aniruddha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha?

This verse offers worship to the Lord in His fourfold manifestation—Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha—affirming that all are worthy of devotion as forms of the same Supreme Lord.

Why did Akrura offer these prayers to Krishna and Balarama?

In Canto 10 Chapter 40, Akrura, overwhelmed by devotion after meeting Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, glorifies them with theological prayers, recognizing Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme and honoring His divine expansions.

How can I apply this teaching in modern devotional practice?

Practice nāma-smaraṇa (remembering the Lord’s names) with reverence—offering heartfelt obeisances and recognizing the one Supreme Lord behind His many names and forms.