Shloka 16

Parīkṣit Confronts Kali; Dharma and Bhūmi Lament Kṛṣṇa’s Departure

Devanagari script

सारथ्यपारषदसेवनसख्यदौत्य- वीरासनानुगमनस्तवनप्रणामान् । स्‍निग्धेषु पाण्डुषु जगत्प्रणतिं च विष्णो- र्भक्तिं करोति नृपतिश्चरणारविन्दे ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

sārathya-pāraṣada-sevana-sakhya-dautya- vīrāsanānugamana-stavana-praṇāmān snigdheṣu pāṇḍuṣu jagat-praṇatiṁ ca viṣṇor bhaktiṁ karoti nṛ-patiś caraṇāravinde

Translation

مہاراج پریکشِت نے سنا کہ جس وِشنو/کرشن کو سارا جگت سر جھکاتا ہے، اُس نے اپنی بےسبب کرپا سے پاندوؤں پر شفقت کرتے ہوئے اُن کی خواہش کے مطابق رتھ بان، صدرِ مجلس، قاصد، دوست، پہرے دار وغیرہ بن کر خدمت کی؛ خادم کی طرح حکم مانا اور کم عمر کی طرح پرنام بھی کیا۔ یہ سن کر مہاراج پریکشِت کے دل میں پر بھو کے کمل چرنوں کی بھکتی موجزن ہو گئی۔

Synonyms

• सारथ्य-पारषद-सेवन-सख्य-दौत्य-वीरासन-अनुगमन-स्तवन-प्रणामान्: (various services:) charioteering, attendant-service, serving, friendship, messenger-duty, following, praise, obeisances
• सारथ्य-पारषद-सेवन-सख्य-दौत्य-वीरासन-अनुगमन-स्तवन-प्रणामान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पार्षद (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक) + सख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दौत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वीरासन (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुगमन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तवन (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (enumerative compound of services); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; ‘(he performs) charioteering, attendant-service, service, friendship, messenger-duty, heroic-seat (attendance), following, praise, obeisances’

• स्निग्धेषु: among the affectionate (ones)
• स्निग्धेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), बहुवचन; ‘affectionate/attached’

• पाण्डुषु: among the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डुषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), बहुवचन; ‘among the Pāṇḍavas’ (contextual)

• जगत्-प्रणतिम्: the obeisance of the world
• जगत्-प्रणतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी): ‘जगतः प्रणतिः’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• करोति: does, performs
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• नृपतिः: the king
• नृपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘नॄणां पतिः’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• चरणारविन्दे: in/at the lotus-feet
• चरणारविन्दे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक) + अरविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय-सन्निकर्षेण): ‘अरविन्द-सदृशं चरणम्’ / ‘चरणस्य अरविन्दम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa is everything to the unalloyed devotees like the Pāṇḍavas. The Lord was for them the Supreme Lord, the spiritual master, the worshipable Deity, the guide, the chariot driver, the friend, the servant, the messenger and everything they could conceive of. And thus the Lord also reciprocated the feelings of the Pāṇḍavas. Mahārāja Parīkṣit, as a pure devotee of the Lord, could appreciate the Lord’s transcendental reciprocation of the feelings of His devotees, and thus he himself also was overwhelmed with the dealings of the Lord. Simply by appreciating the dealings of the Lord with His pure devotees, one can attain salvation. The Lord’s dealings with His devotees appear to be ordinary human dealings, but one who knows them in truth becomes at once eligible to go back home, back to Godhead. The Pāṇḍavas were so malleable to the will of the Lord that they could sacrifice any amount of energy for the service of the Lord, and by such unalloyed determination they could secure the Lord’s mercy in any shape they desired.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Viṣṇu (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• King Parīkṣit
• The Pāṇḍavas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about remembering Krishna’s pastimes to develop bhakti?

This verse teaches that recalling Kṛṣṇa/Viṣṇu’s intimate, humble services—like being a charioteer or messenger for His devotees—naturally awakens and strengthens devotion to His lotus feet.

Why is Krishna described as a messenger and charioteer in the Bhagavatam?

To show His bhakta-vātsalya (affection for devotees): the Supreme Lord willingly accepts seemingly subordinate roles to protect and honor the Pāṇḍavas and fulfill dharma.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Practice smaraṇam: regularly remember and read Kṛṣṇa’s dealings with His devotees, and let that remembrance shape humility, service attitude, and steady devotion in daily duties.