Shloka 16

Nābhi’s Sacrifice and Lord Viṣṇu’s Promise to Appear as a Son (Ṛṣabhadeva’s Advent Prelude)

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इति निगदेनाभिष्टूयमानो भगवाननिमिषर्षभो वर्षधराभिवादिताभिवन्दितचरण: सदयमिदमाह ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca iti nigadenābhiṣṭūyamāno bhagavān animiṣarṣabho varṣa-dharābhivāditābhivandita-caraṇaḥ sadayam idam āha.

Translation

శ్రీశుకదేవ గోస్వామి అన్నారు—ఇలా గద్యప్రార్థనలతో స్తుతింపబడుతున్న అనిమిషుల అధిపతి భగవంతుని పదపద్మాలకు, భరతవర్షాధిపతి నాభిరాజు గౌరవించిన ఋత్వికులు నమస్కరించారు. వారి భక్తికి భగవంతుడు అత్యంత ప్రసన్నుడై, కరుణతో ఈ విధంగా పలికాడు.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (श्री, प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (शुक, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; proper name with honorific

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्, धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• nigadena: by (their) words
• nigadena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nigada (निगद, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; ‘by speech/utterance’

• abhiṣṭūyamānaḥ: being praised
• abhiṣṭūyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate of bhagavān)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√stu (स्तु, धातु)
• Form: Present passive participle (कृत्: शानच् in passive sense), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘being praised’

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (भगवत्, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• animiṣa-ṛṣabhaḥ: the foremost among the gods
• animiṣa-ṛṣabhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: animiṣa (अनिमिष, प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (ऋषभ, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; epithet ‘bull among the unblinking (gods)’

• varṣa-dharaiḥ: by the varṣa-lords
• varṣa-dharaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa-dhara (वर्षधर, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; ‘by the rulers of the varṣas (regions)’

• abhivādita: saluted
• abhivādita: (compound-member)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√vad (वद्, धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), used as first member in compound; ‘saluted’

• abhivandita: worshipped
• abhivandita: (compound-member)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√vand (वन्द्, धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), compound-member; ‘revered’

• caraṇaḥ: whose feet
• caraṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (चरण, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; in bahuvrīhi sense with preceding participles

• sadayam: compassionately
• sadayam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-daya (सदय, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adverbial accusative ‘compassionately’

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (अह्/आह्, धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Bhagavān Ṛṣabhadeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s compassion?

This verse highlights that after being glorified, Lord Ṛṣabhadeva speaks “sa-dayam”—with mercy—showing the Lord responds compassionately to sincere praise and devotion.

Why is Lord Ṛṣabhadeva being offered obeisances by the rulers of the varṣas?

The verse presents Ṛṣabhadeva as Bhagavān, whose lotus feet are naturally honored by exalted cosmic administrators, establishing His supreme position before His instruction begins.

Practical application of praising the Lord in modern life according to this shloka?

Offer sincere glorification and respect (through prayer, kīrtana, and humility); the Bhagavatam emphasizes that such devotion invites divine guidance and compassionate instruction.