Shloka 22

Kurukṣetra Pilgrimage: Sages Praise Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva Inquires on Karma; Viṣṇu-yajña Performed

Devanagari script

नमस्तस्मै भगवते कृष्णायाकुण्ठमेधसे । स्वयोगमाययाच्छन्नमहिम्ने परमात्मने ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

namas tasmai bhagavate kṛṣṇāyākuṇṭha-medhase sva-yogamāyayācchanna- mahimne paramātmane

Translation

ขอนอบน้อมแด่พระภควาน ศรีกฤษณะ ผู้เป็นปรมาตมัน ผู้มีปัญญาไม่สิ้นสุด และทรงปกปิดพระสิริของพระองค์ด้วยโยคมายาของพระองค์เอง

Synonyms

• नमः: salutations
• नमः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (interjection/particle of salutation)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• भगवते: to the Blessed Lord
• भगवते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• कृष्णाय: to Krishna
• कृष्णाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• अकुण्ठ-मेधसे: to him of unfailing intelligence
• अकुण्ठ-मेधसे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकुण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + मेधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘akūṇṭhā medhā yasya’ (unfailing intellect)

• स्व-योग-मायया: by his own yogamāyā
• स्व-योग-मायया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘svasya yogamāyā’

• आच्छन्न-महिम्ने: to him whose glory is concealed
• आच्छन्न-महिम्ने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आच्छन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आ + छद् धातु) + महिमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘āchannaḥ mahimā yasya’ (whose glory is concealed)

• परम-आत्मने: to the Supreme Self
• परम-आत्मने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘paramaḥ ātmā’

Purport

Apart from any future profit to be obtained from worshiping the Supreme Lord, it is every person’s most essential obligation to bow down to Him as an acknowledgement of one’s dependence and servitude. Lord Kṛṣṇa recommends,

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Paramatma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being the Paramatma?

This verse directly offers obeisance to Kṛṣṇa as Paramātmā—the Supreme Self who resides within all beings—affirming His supreme, all-pervading identity even while He appears in a humanlike form.

Why is Krishna’s glory said to be concealed by yoga-maya?

The verse explains that Kṛṣṇa’s own yoga-māyā covers His majesty so His intimate pastimes and relationships can unfold naturally, allowing devotees to relate to Him with love rather than awe alone.

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

Practice humility and devotion by remembering that the Divine may not appear outwardly “grand”; cultivate reverence, prayer, and inner remembrance (Paramātmā-bhāva) even amid ordinary circumstances.