Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 15

Bali Mahārāja’s Surrender, Prahlāda’s Praise, and the Lord’s Mercy

Sutala and Future Indrahood

Devanagari script

स तत्र हासीनमुदीक्ष्य सत्पतिं हरिं सुनन्दाद्यनुगैरुपासितम् । उपेत्य भूमौ शिरसा महामना ननाम मूर्ध्ना पुलकाश्रुविक्लव: ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

sa tatra hāsīnam udīkṣya sat-patiṁ hariṁ sunandādy-anugair upāsitam upetya bhūmau śirasā mahā-manā nanāma mūrdhnā pulakāśru-viklavaḥ

Translation

Khi Prahlāda Mahārāja thấy Bhagavān Hari đang ngồi đó, được các bạn đồng hành thân cận như Sunanda vây quanh và phụng thờ, ông trào lệ hoan hỷ. Ông tiến đến, phủ phục xuống đất và đảnh lễ bằng đầu trước Chúa Tối Thượng.

Synonyms

• saḥ: he (Bali)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: there)

• hāsīnam: seated
• hāsīnam: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hāsīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषण (seated)

• udīkṣya: having looked at
• udīkṣya: Sambandha (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘उदीक्ष्य’ = having looked at

• sat-patim: the lord of the virtuous
• sat-patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; ‘सतां पतिः’ (lord of the good); पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन

• harim: Hari
• harim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन

• sunanda-ādi-anugaiḥ: by attendants like Sunanda
• sunanda-ādi-anugaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sunanda + ādi + anuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; ‘सुनन्दादयः अनुगाः’ (attendants such as Sunanda); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचन

• upāsitam: attended/worshipped
• upāsitam: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ās (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘उपासित’ = worshipped/attended

• upetya: having approached
• upetya: Sambandha (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-i (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); ‘उपेत्य’ = having approached

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (Locative) एकवचन

• śirasā: with (his) head
• śirasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental) एकवचन; करण (with the head)

• mahā-manāḥ: great-minded
• mahā-manāḥ: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि; ‘महान् मनः यस्य’ (great-minded); पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन

• nanāma: bowed
• nanāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• mūrdhnā: with (his) head
• mūrdhnā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental) एकवचन

• pulaka-aśru-viklavaḥ: overwhelmed with goosebumps and tears
• pulaka-aśru-viklavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pulaka + aśru + viklava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-श्रृंखला; ‘पुलकेन अश्रुभिः विक्लवः’ (overwhelmed with horripilation and tears); पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Lord Viṣṇu/Vāmana)
• Sunanda
• Indra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the signs of genuine devotion like tears and goosebumps?

This verse describes a devotee becoming pulaka (horripilation) and aśru (tears) upon seeing Lord Hari, indicating heartfelt surrender and spiritual emotion arising from direct remembrance and darśana of the Lord.

Why did Indra bow down to Lord Hari in Canto 8 Chapter 22?

After the Lord’s arrangement restored Indra’s position and established cosmic order, Indra approached the smiling Lord Hari with humility and gratitude, offering obeisance as the protector of the saintly.

Practical application of humility and reverence from this shloka in modern life?

Cultivate gratitude and humility when receiving help or guidance—acknowledging the higher source of support—and express respect through sincere prayer, service, and restrained ego.