Shloka 45

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच तत्र तेष्वात्मपक्षेष्वगृणत्सु विजिगीषया । वाच: पेशै: स्मयन् भृत्यमुद्धवं प्राह केशव: ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca tatra teṣv ātma-pakṣeṣv a- gṛṇatsu vijigīṣayā vācaḥ peśaiḥ smayan bhṛtyam uddhavaṁ prāha keśavaḥ

Translation

ศรีศุกเทวะกล่าวว่า: เมื่อเหล่ายาทวะผู้เป็นพวกของพระองค์คัดค้านข้อเสนอนั้นด้วยความใคร่จะพิชิตชราสันธะ พระเกศวะจึงยิ้มและกล่าวกับอุทธวะผู้รับใช้ของพระองค์ด้วยถ้อยคำอันไพเราะ.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Shri Shukadeva
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ/लिट), 3rd Person (Prathama), Singular

• tatra: there/at that time
• tatra: Adhikarana (Location/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• teṣu: among them
• teṣu: Adhikarana (Sati Saptami context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• ātma-pakṣeṣu: among his own allies
• ātma-pakṣeṣu: Adhikarana (Sati Saptami context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātma-pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; (His own allies)

• agṛṇatsu: while not speaking/remaining silent
• agṛṇatsu: Visheshana (Qualifier - Sati Saptami)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agṛṇat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; Present Participle (Shatri) with negative 'a'

• vijigīṣayā: due to the desire to conquer
• vijigīṣayā: Hetu (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vijigīṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• vācaḥ: of speech
• vācaḥ: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• peśaiḥ: with ornaments/cleverness
• peśaiḥ: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: peśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• smayan: smiling
• smayan: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smi (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Present Participle (Shatri)

• bhṛtyam: servant
• bhṛtyam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• uddhavam: Uddhava
• uddhavam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uddhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prāha: spoke
• prāha: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prāha (brū) (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ/लिट), 3rd Person (Prathama), Singular

• keśavaḥ: Keshava (Krishna)
• keśavaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Purport

Śrīla Prabhupāda explains, “Just before the great sage Nārada arrived in the Sudharmā assembly house of Dvārakā, Lord Kṛṣṇa and His ministers and secretaries had been considering how to attack the kingdom of Jarāsandha. Because they were seriously considering this subject, Nārada’s proposal that Lord Kṛṣṇa go to Hastināpura for Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira’s great Rājasūya sacrifice did not much appeal to them. Lord Kṛṣṇa could understand the intentions of His associates because He is the ruler of even Lord Brahmā. Therefore, in order to pacify them, He smilingly [spoke] to Uddhava.”

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Keśava (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s way of speaking to devotees?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa smiling and tactfully “polishing” the discussion—guiding His own side with gentle, skillful speech while turning to His trusted devotee Uddhava.

Why did Krishna address Uddhava here?

As opinions arose among His supporters, Kṛṣṇa chose to speak to Uddhava—His confidential servant—indicating reliance on a wise devotee for counsel and carrying out His intentions.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

When discussions become competitive, lead with calmness, a smile, and refined speech—then consult trustworthy, principled advisors before acting.