Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 5

Aditi’s Payo-vrata and Viṣṇu’s Promise to Appear as Her Son

Prelude to Vāmana

Devanagari script

तं नेत्रगोचरं वीक्ष्य सहसोत्थाय सादरम् । ननाम भुवि कायेन दण्डवत् प्रीतिविह्वला ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ netra-gocaraṁ vīkṣya sahasotthāya sādaram nanāma bhuvi kāyena daṇḍavat-prīti-vihvalā

Translation

ଭଗବାନଙ୍କୁ ଚକ୍ଷୁଗୋଚର ଦେଖି ଅଦିତି ସହସା ଉଠି, ପ୍ରୀତିରେ ବିହ୍ୱଳ ହୋଇ, ଆଦରସହିତ ଭୂମିରେ ଦଣ୍ଡବତ୍ ପଡି ପ୍ରଣାମ କଲେ।

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नेत्रगोचरम्: within sight (of the eyes)
• नेत्रगोचरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नेत्रगोचर (प्रातिपदिक: नेत्र + गोचर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘नेत्रस्य गोचरः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; तम् इति विशेषण

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: वि-

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

• उत्थाय: having risen
• उत्थाय: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), उपसर्ग: उत्-; अर्थः ‘उत्थित्वा’

• सादरम्: respectfully
• सादरम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सादर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन-द्वितीया/प्रथमा प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative)

• ननाम: bowed down
• ननाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भूमि/भुवि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कायेन: with the body
• कायेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• दण्डवत्: prostrate (like a stick)
• दण्डवत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (indeclinable adverb: ‘like a staff’, i.e., prostrate)

• प्रीति: with joy/love
• प्रीति: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया/षष्ठी-समासपूर्वपद; प्रीति-विह्वला इति समासे पूर्वपद

• विह्वला: overwhelmed
• विह्वला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; प्रीति-विह्वला इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/हेतुतत्पुरुषार्थे (overwhelmed due to joy)

Characters & Entities

• Aditi
• Kaśyapa Muni

FAQs

What is the meaning of daṇḍavat praṇāma in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Daṇḍavat praṇāma means offering full prostrated obeisance—lying like a rod—showing complete humility and reverence, as Aditi does here upon seeing the venerable sage.

Why did Aditi bow down to Kaśyapa Muni in Bhagavatam 8.17.5?

Because Kaśyapa is her husband and a great ṛṣi; seeing him, Aditi becomes filled with affectionate devotion and immediately honors him with respectful full-body obeisance.

How can I apply the teaching of Bhagavatam 8.17.5 in modern life?

Cultivate humility and gratitude—offer sincere respect to teachers, parents, and spiritual guides, and let reverence be expressed through attentive service and courteous conduct.