Shloka 11

Ambikā-vana Śiva-pūjā; Nanda Saved from the Serpent; Śaṅkhacūḍa Slain

Devanagari script

को भवान् परया लक्ष्म्या रोचतेऽद्भ‍ुतदर्शन: । कथं जुगुप्सितामेतां गतिं वा प्रापितोऽवश: ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

ko bhavān parayā lakṣmyā rocate ’dbhuta-darśanaḥ kathaṁ jugupsitām etāṁ gatiṁ vā prāpito ’vaśaḥ

Translation

[శ్రీకృష్ణుడు అన్నాడు:] మహానుభావా, మీరు అపూర్వ దర్శనంతో, మహా సౌందర్యంతో ప్రకాశిస్తున్నారు. మీరు ఎవరు? మరియు ఎవరి బలవశాత్తు మీరు ఈ జుగుప్సితమైన సర్పదేహాన్ని ధరించవలసి వచ్చింది?

Synonyms

• kaḥ: who
• kaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• bhavān: you (sir)
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; आदरार्थक-सर्वनाम

• parayā: by supreme
• parayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; लक्ष्म्या इत्यस्य विशेषण

• lakṣmyā: by splendor/fortune
• lakṣmyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• rocate: shines / appears pleasing
• rocate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ruc (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular

• adbhuta-darśanaḥ: of wondrous appearance
• adbhuta-darśanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; कर्मधारय (अद्भुतं दर्शनं यस्य/अद्भुत-दर्शनः)

• katham: how
• katham: Sambandha/Prashna (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्न-अव्यय)

• jugupsitām: despised
• jugupsitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jugupsita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (क्त), Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; एताम्/गतिम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• etām: this
• etām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; सर्वनाम

• gatim: state/condition
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय)

• prāpitaḥ: brought to / made to reach
• prāpitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-āp (धातु)
• Form: Causative PPP (णिच् + क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘made to attain/caused to reach’

• avaśaḥ: helpless
• avaśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; विशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Nanda Mahārāja
• Varuṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about recognizing divinity even in a fallen condition?

This verse highlights that true perception notices inner spiritual radiance (lakṣmī, adbhuta-darśana) even when someone appears to be in a degraded or pitiable state, prompting compassion rather than contempt.

Why did Krishna ask, "Who are you?" in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.34.11?

Kṛṣṇa addresses a being whose extraordinary splendor does not match the degraded condition he is in, indicating the contrast between the soul’s inherent dignity and the covering effects of karma or circumstance within the līlā narrative.

Practical application: how can I apply this shloka in modern life?

Train yourself to look beyond external downfall—poverty, illness, addiction, disgrace—and respond with discernment and compassion, remembering that a person’s essential worth can be greater than their present condition.