Shloka 18

Devanagari script

अथाख्याहिहरेर्धीमन्नवतारकथा: शुभा: । लीला विदधत: स्वैरमीश्वरस्यात्ममायया ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

athākhyāhi harer dhīmann avatāra-kathāḥ śubhāḥ līlā vidadhataḥ svairam īśvarasyātma-māyayā

Translation

โอ้สุทผู้มีปัญญา โปรดเล่าเรื่องอวตารอันเป็นมงคลของพระหริ; พระผู้เป็นใหญ่ทรงกระทำลีลาอันเป็นสิริมงคลเหล่านี้โดยเสรี ด้วยอำนาจภายในของพระองค์ (อาตมมายา)

Synonyms

• atha: now/then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/sequence marker (अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय)

• ākhyāhi: describe/tell
• ākhyāhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√khyā (ख्या प्रकाशने/कथने)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhīman: O wise one
• dhīman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• avatāra-kathāḥ: incarnation narratives
• avatāra-kathāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी): avatārāṇāṁ kathāḥ = ‘stories of incarnations’

• śubhāḥ: auspicious
• śubhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with avatāra-kathāḥ

• līlāḥ: divine plays
• līlāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vidadhataḥ: of (him) who performs
• vidadhataḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√dhā (धा धारणे/विधाने) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘of him who performs/ordains’

• svairam: freely/at will
• svairam: Sambandha (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svaira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय), accusative used adverbially

• īśvarasya: of the Lord
• īśvarasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ātma-māyayā: by his own māyā
• ātma-māyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी): ātmanaḥ māyā = ‘his own māyā’

Purport

For the creation, maintenance and destruction of the material worlds, the Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead Himself appears in many thousands of forms of incarnations, and the specific adventures found in those transcendental forms are all auspicious. Both those who are present during such activities and those who hear the transcendental narrations of such activities are benefited.

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Īśvara

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about hearing avatara-katha (stories of the Lord’s incarnations)?

This verse calls avatāra-kathā “śubhāḥ” (auspicious), indicating that hearing the Lord’s incarnations and pastimes is spiritually purifying and beneficial for devotion.

Why did the sages ask for the Lord’s līlā and avatāra stories in Canto 1 Chapter 1?

In Naimiṣāraṇya, the sages request Sūta to speak the most sacred topics for the welfare of all—specifically the Lord’s incarnations and pastimes, which are enacted by His own independent divine power.

How can the idea of ‘īśvara acting freely by ātma-māyā’ be applied in modern life?

It encourages humility and faith: the Supreme is not forced by material laws, so a devotee can cultivate steadiness by hearing līlā and trusting divine guidance beyond ordinary control.