Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

नमो बुद्धाय शुद्धाय दैत्यदानवमोहिने । म्‍लेच्छप्रायक्षत्रहन्त्रे नमस्ते कल्किरूपिणे ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

namo buddhāya śuddhāya daitya-dānava-mohine mleccha-prāya-kṣatra-hantre namas te kalki-rūpiṇe

Translation

శుద్ధుడైన, నిర్దోష బుద్ధరూపునకు నమస్కారం, దైత్యదానవులను మోహింపజేసేవాడా; మ్లేచ్ఛప్రాయ క్షత్రియులను సంహరించే కల్కిరూపునకు నమస్కారం।

Synonyms

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

• buddhāya: to Buddha
• buddhāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• śuddhāya: to the pure (one)
• śuddhāya: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; used adjectivally (विशेषण) qualifying ‘buddhāya’

• daitya-dānava-mohine: to the deluder of Daityas and Dānavas
• daitya-dānava-mohine: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya + dānava + mohin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; compound: तत्पुरुष ‘deluder/enchanter (मोहिन्) of Daityas and Dānavas’

• mleccha-prāya-kṣatra-hantre: to the slayer of mleccha-like kṣatriyas
• mleccha-prāya-kṣatra-hantre: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mleccha + prāya + kṣatra + hantr (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; compound: तत्पुरुष; kridanta: hantr (हन्-धातु) agent noun ‘slayer’; meaning ‘slayer of kṣatriyas who are mostly like mlecchas’

• 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

• kalki-rūpiṇe: to the one in the form of Kalki
• kalki-rūpiṇe: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalki + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; compound: तत्पुरुष ‘having the form (रूपिन्) of Kalki’

Characters & Entities

• Buddha
• Kalki
• Daityas
• Dānavas

FAQs

Why does Srimad Bhagavatam mention Lord Buddha in Akrura’s prayers?

This verse honors Buddha as an avatāra who, remaining supremely pure, deludes the demonic mentality (Daityas and Dānavas) and thus protects dharma by redirecting those opposed to Vedic sacrifice and righteousness.

What does the Bhagavatam say about Kalki and Kali Yuga in this verse?

It identifies Kalki as the Lord’s future form who will destroy rulers who have degraded into mleccha-like behavior—irreligious, cruel, and opposed to dharma—thereby restoring righteousness.

How can a devotee apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

By taking shelter of the Lord’s guidance across ages—cultivating purity and devotion, rejecting irreligious conduct, and aligning one’s life with dharma despite Kali Yuga’s degrading influences.