Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 23

Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance

Devanagari script

तत्तेजसा हतरुच: सन्नजिह्वा: ससाध्वसा: । मूर्ध्ना धृताञ्जलिपुटा उपतस्थुरधोक्षजम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

tat-tejasā hata-rucaḥ sanna-jihvāḥ sa-sādhvasāḥ mūrdhnā dhṛtāñjali-puṭā upatasthur adhokṣajam

Translation

在那罗延身光炽盛的辉耀前，众人的光彩尽皆黯淡，言语也都止息。众人怀着敬畏与虔诚的战栗，合掌举至额顶，准备向超越感官的至上人格神——阿多克沙迦——献上祈祷。

Synonyms

• tat-tejasā: by that radiance
• tat-tejasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka, Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3rd), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘by that splendor’

• hata-rucaḥ: with luster subdued
• hata-rucaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √han (धातु) + kta (क्त) + ruc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; kta ‘hata’ + ruci: ‘whose luster was struck/overpowered’

• sanna-jihvāḥ: with tongues stilled
• sanna-jihvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṁ-√sad/√sīd (धातु) + kta (क्त) + jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; kta ‘sanna’ (drooping/quieted) qualifying jihvā: ‘tongues stilled’

• sa-sādhvasāḥ: with awe/fear
• sa-sādhvasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + sādhvasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ‘with fear/with awe’ (saha-artha ‘sa-’)

• mūrdhnā: with the head
• mūrdhnā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• dhṛta-añjali-puṭāḥ: with hands folded (añjali)
• dhṛta-añjali-puṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु) + kta (क्त) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक) + puṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: ‘having held (dhṛta) the hollow of joined palms (añjali-puṭa)’

• upatasthuḥ: stood near/attended
• upatasthuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect), Prathama puruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• adhokṣajam: Adhokṣaja (the Lord)
• adhokṣajam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhokṣaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; proper epithet of Viṣṇu

Characters & Entities

• Adhokṣaja (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by the name Adhokṣaja?

Adhokṣaja refers to the Supreme Lord who is beyond the grasp of material senses and mental speculation; He is approached through devotion, not ordinary perception.

Why did everyone become silent and fold their hands when Lord Viṣṇu appeared?

His overwhelming divine effulgence subdued their pride and speech, producing sādhvasa—reverential awe—so they instinctively bowed and offered respectful obeisances.

How can this verse be applied in modern spiritual practice?

It teaches humility before the Divine: cultivate reverence, restrain impulsive speech, and approach God through sincere bhakti rather than ego or argument.