Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 24

The Pracetās Meet Lord Viṣṇu—Benedictions, Pure Prayer, and the Birth of Dakṣa

Devanagari script

नमो विशुद्धसत्त्वाय हरये हरिमेधसे । वासुदेवाय कृष्णाय प्रभवे सर्वसात्वताम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

namo viśuddha-sattvāya haraye hari-medhase vāsudevāya kṛṣṇāya prabhave sarva-sātvatām

Translation

顶礼于至纯清净之性（viśuddha-sattva）的哈利，顶礼于以智慧筹划除去奉献者苦厄的哈利-美达斯。顶礼于遍住一切的瓦苏戴瓦，顶礼于瓦苏戴瓦之子克里希纳，顶礼于令一切萨特瓦塔奉献者之影响与福德增长的主宰。

Synonyms

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayojana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक

• विशुद्ध-सत्त्वाय: to Him of perfectly pure sattva
• विशुद्ध-सत्त्वाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशुद्ध + सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (‘pure sattva’), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हरये: to Hari
• हरये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हरि-मेधसे: to Him of Hari-like intelligence
• हरि-मेधसे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + मेधस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘having Hari-like wisdom/understanding’), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वासुदेवाय: to Vasudeva
• वासुदेवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृष्णाय: to Krishna
• कृष्णाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रभवे: to the Lord
• प्रभवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु/प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्व-सात्वताम्: of all the Sātvatas
• सर्व-सात्वताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + सात्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘of all Sātvatas/devotees’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

Purport

In the previous verse it has been said ( gṛhīta-māyā-guṇa-vigrahāya ) that the Lord accepts three kinds of bodies (Viṣṇu, Brahmā and Śiva) for the purposes of creating, maintaining and annihilating the cosmic manifestation. The three predominating deities of the material universe — Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva — are called guṇa-avatāras. There are many kinds of incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the first incarnations within this material world are Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara (Śiva). Out of these three, Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva accept material bodies, but Lord Viṣṇu does not accept a material body. Lord Viṣṇu is therefore known as viśuddha-sattva. His existence is completely free from the contamination of the material modes of nature. One should therefore not think that Lord Viṣṇu is in the same category with Lord Brahmā and Śiva. The śāstras forbid us to think in this way:

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vāsudeva
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about viśuddha-sattva (pure goodness)?

This verse addresses the Lord as viśuddha-sattva—His nature is not material goodness but fully transcendental purity, the spiritual platform on which true devotion is established.

Why did Pṛthu Mahārāja offer prayers to Vāsudeva and Kṛṣṇa in Canto 4?

In his devotional glorification, Pṛthu identifies the Supreme as Hari, Vāsudeva, and Kṛṣṇa—affirming that the ultimate ruler and source of all Vaiṣṇavas is the same personal Lord.

Practical application of offering namo (obeisances) in modern life?

Cultivate humility and God-centeredness daily—begin tasks with remembrance and gratitude to Hari/Kṛṣṇa, which purifies motives and strengthens steady devotional practice.