Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 40

Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Life in Dvārakā; the Captive Kings’ Appeal; Nārada Announces the Rājasūya

Devanagari script

अथाप्याश्रावये ब्रह्म नरलोकविडम्बनम् । राज्ञ: पैतृष्वस्रेयस्य भक्तस्य च चिकीर्षितम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

athāpy āśrāvaye brahma nara-loka-viḍambanam rājñaḥ paitṛ-ṣvasreyasya bhaktasya ca cikīrṣitam

Translation

Dẫu vậy, lạy Brahman—Đấng Chân Thật Tối Thượng đang đóng vai con người—con xin thưa cùng Ngài điều mà người sùng kính của Ngài, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, con trai của dì bên cha Ngài, đang dự định thực hiện.

Synonyms

• atha: now/then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence/now)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• āśrāvaye: I shall inform/make (you) hear
• āśrāvaye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; णिच् (causative) भावः—‘श्रावयति’

• brahma: O Brahman (O Lord)
• brahma: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन

• nara-loka-viḍambanam: the imitation of the human world
• nara-loka-viḍambanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक) + viḍambana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('mockery/semblance of the human world')

• rājñaḥ: of the king
• rājñaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• paitṛ-ṣvasreyasya: of (his) paternal cousin
• paitṛ-ṣvasreyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paitṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + ṣvasreya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ('of the paternal cousin'—son of father's sister)

• bhaktasya: of the devotee
• bhaktasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √bhaj (भज्) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (devotee)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• cikīrṣitam: the intended act/purpose
• cikīrṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cikīrṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ (कृ धातु) सन् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (intended/desired to be done)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Kṛṣṇa
• King Yudhiṣṭhira

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by Krishna ‘imitating human society’ (naraloka-viḍambanam)?

This verse indicates that the Supreme Lord conducts pastimes in a humanlike way—appearing to follow worldly customs—while remaining fully divine, so devotees can relate to Him and relish His līlā.

Who is the ‘king, the son of Krishna’s paternal aunt’ mentioned in Bhagavatam 10.70.40?

It refers to King Yudhiṣṭhira, who is Kṛṣṇa’s cousin (son of Kṛṣṇa’s father’s sister, Kuntī).

How can a devotee apply this verse in modern life?

Serve God with sincere devotion and trust that the Lord arranges practical, worldly-seeming outcomes to fulfill a devotee’s righteous intentions, even while His actions remain transcendental.