Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 1

Devas in Dvārakā, Brahmā’s Petition, and Uddhava’s Appeal

Prabhāsa Departure Set-Up

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच अथ ब्रह्मात्मजै: देवै: प्रजेशैरावृतोऽभ्यगात् । भवश्च भूतभव्येशो ययौ भूतगणैर्वृत: ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca atha brahmātma-jaiḥ devaiḥ prajeśair āvṛto ’bhyagāt bhavaś ca bhūta-bhavyeśo yayau bhūta-gaṇair vṛtaḥ

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī nói: Rồi Brahmā lên đường đến Dvārakā, được bao quanh bởi các con trai của Ngài, chư thiên và các Prajāpati vĩ đại. Chúa Śiva, đấng ban cát tường cho mọi sinh linh, chủ tể của quá khứ và tương lai, cũng đi, giữa vòng vây các đoàn bhūta.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (श्रीः + शुकः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘then/now’)

• ब्रह्म-आत्म-जैः: by Brahmā’s sons
• ब्रह्म-आत्म-जैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आत्मन् + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः आत्मजाः = Brahmā’s sons)

• देवैः: by the gods
• देवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• प्रजेशैः: by the lords of creatures (Prajāpatis)
• प्रजेशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (प्रजायाः ईशाः)

• आवृतः: surrounded
• आवृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-वृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), ‘surrounded’

• अभ्यगात्: went/approached
• अभ्यगात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/Imperfective past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• भवः: Bhava (Śiva)
• भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (शिवः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भूत-भव्य-ईशः: lord of past and future beings
• भूत-भव्य-ईशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + भव्य + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भूतस्य भव्यस्य च ईशः)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• भूत-गणैः: by hosts of beings
• भूत-गणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भूतानां गणाः)

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), ‘surrounded’

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Brahmā-putras (sons of Brahmā)
• Devas (demigods)
• Prajeśas (Prajāpatis)
• Bhava (Lord Śiva)
• Bhūta-gaṇas (Śiva’s attendants)

FAQs

Why do the demigods and Prajapatis appear in Bhagavatam Canto 11 Chapter 6?

This verse indicates a major divine assembly: the devas, Brahmā’s sons, and the Prajāpatis arrive together, signaling an important turning point in the narrative around Lord Kṛṣṇa and the Yadu dynasty.

Who is ‘Bhava’ in Srimad Bhagavatam, and why is he called ‘bhūta-bhavyeśa’?

‘Bhava’ is Lord Śiva. He is praised as ‘bhūta-bhavyeśa,’ the lord of what has been and what will be, highlighting his cosmic authority and timelessness.

What is a practical lesson from this shloka for modern spiritual life?

Even the highest cosmic authorities approach the Lord with reverence—reminding a practitioner to cultivate humility, devotion, and respect for sacred gatherings and divine purpose.