Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 7

Bhakti as the Easy and Supreme Yoga: Seeing Kṛṣṇa in All and Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्युद्धवेनात्यनुरक्तचेतसा पृष्टो जगत्क्रीडनक: स्वशक्तिभि: । गृहीतमूर्तित्रय ईश्वरेश्वरो जगाद सप्रेममनोहरस्मित: ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca ity uddhavenāty-anurakta-cetasā pṛṣṭo jagat-krīḍanakaḥ sva-śaktibhiḥ gṛhīta-mūrti-traya īśvareśvaro jagāda sa-prema-manohara-smitaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī nói: Được Uddhava với tấm lòng vô cùng gắn bó yêu kính hỏi như vậy, Đức Kṛṣṇa—Đấng điều khiển của mọi đấng điều khiển, xem vũ trụ như trò chơi của Ngài và bằng năng lực của mình mang ba hình tướng Brahmā, Viṣṇu và Śiva—bắt đầu đáp lời với nụ cười duyên dáng chan chứa tình thương.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (शुक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समास: कर्मधारय (honorific + name)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (इति अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (उद्धरण-निपात)

• uddhavena: by Uddhava
• uddhavena: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uddhava (उद्धव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ati-anurakta-cetasā: with an intensely devoted mind
• ati-anurakta-cetasā: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अति अव्यय) + anurakta (अनुरञ्ज् धातु, क्त) + cetas (चेतस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष; ‘with mind extremely attached’; qualifies uddhavena (instrumental of accompaniment/means)

• pṛṣṭaḥ: having been asked
• pṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prach (प्रच्छ् धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• jagat-krīḍanakaḥ: the one who plays with the universe
• jagat-krīḍanakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (जगत् प्रातिपदिक) + krīḍanaka (क्रीडनक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष ‘the one for whom the world is a plaything’

• sva-śaktibhiḥ: by/with his own energies
• sva-śaktibhiḥ: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (शक्ति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); समास: कर्मधारय ‘with his own powers’

• gṛhīta-mūrti-trayaḥ: having assumed the three forms
• gṛhīta-mūrti-trayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛhīta (ग्रह् धातु, क्त) + mūrti (मूर्ति प्रातिपदिक) + traya (त्रय प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समास: तत्पुरुष ‘having assumed three forms’; adjective of īśvareśvaraḥ

• īśvara-īśvaraḥ: the Lord of lords
• īśvara-īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (ईश्वर प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (ईश्वर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समास: कर्मधारय ‘Lord of lords’

• jagāda: spoke
• jagāda: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gad (गद् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• sa-prema-manohara-smitaḥ: whose smile was charming with love
• sa-prema-manohara-smitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (स- उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक ‘with’) + prema (प्रेमन् प्रातिपदिक) + manohara (मनोहर प्रातिपदिक) + smita (स्मित प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि ‘he whose smile is charming with affection’

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Uddhava
• Īśvara (Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 11.29.7 say about Krishna’s control over the universe?

It describes the Lord as jagat-krīḍanakaḥ—one who ‘plays’ with the universe—because He effortlessly operates creation through His own energies (sva-śaktibhiḥ), remaining the supreme controller (īśvareśvaraḥ).

Why is Uddhava’s question important in Canto 11 Chapter 29?

This verse frames the dialogue: Uddhava, deeply devoted, inquires, and Krishna responds with affectionate clarity—signaling that the teachings that follow are intimate, bhakti-centered conclusions of the Uddhava Gītā section.

How can a devotee apply the mood of this verse in modern life?

Approach spiritual learning like Uddhava—earnest, affectionate, and attentive—trusting that the Lord guides through His energies, and cultivate devotion that draws divine instruction into one’s daily choices.