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Shloka 19

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

श्रीशुक उवाच इति निशामयन्त्या मेरुदेव्या: पतिमभिधायान्तर्दधे भगवान् ॥ १९ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti niśāmayantyā merudevyāḥ patim abhidhāyāntardadhe bhagavān.

శ్రీశుకదేవుడు చెప్పెను—ఇలా చెప్పి భగవంతుడు మహారాజ నాభిని సంబోధించాడు; పక్కనే కూర్చున్న రాణి మేరుదేవి అన్నీ వినగలిగింది. అనంతరం భగవంతుడు అంతర్ధానమయ్యాడు.

śrī-śukaḥŚrī Śuka
śrī-śukaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootśrī (श्री, प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (शुक, प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (वच्, धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada
itithus
iti:
Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
FormQuotative particle
niśāmayantyāḥwhile she was listening (of Merudevī)
niśāmayantyāḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeVerb
Rootni-√śam (शम्/शम्, धातु; ‘to notice/hear’)
FormPresent active participle (कृत्: शतृ) in feminine genitive singular (स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन); ‘of her who was listening’
merudevyāḥof Merudevī
merudevyāḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootmerudevī (मेरुदेवी, प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
patimhusband
patim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpati (पति, प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
abhidhāyahaving addressed
abhidhāya:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootabhi-√dhā (धा, धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्: ल्यप्), ‘having addressed/said’
antardadhedisappeared
antardadhe:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootantar-√dhā (धा, धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); ‘disappeared’
bhagavānthe Lord
bhagavān:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbhagavat (भगवत्, प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

According to the Vedic injunctions, one should perform sacrifices in the company of one’s own wife. Sapatnīko dharmam ācaret: religious rituals should be performed with one’s wife; therefore Mahārāja Nābhi conducted his great sacrifice with his wife by his side.

Ś
Śukadeva
M
Merudevī
Ṛṣabhadeva (Bhagavān)

FAQs

This verse indicates the Lord’s divine withdrawal after delivering His message—showing His transcendence and teaching detachment from bodily association.

It means “the Supreme Lord disappeared (from view),” emphasizing that His presence and departure are under His divine will, not ordinary limitation.

By practicing steadiness in devotion and duty even when comforting support seems to ‘disappear,’ remembering that spiritual instruction is the lasting shelter.