Shloka 18

Akrūra’s Prayers (Akrūra-stuti): The Lord as Cause of Causes, Virāṭ, and the Goal of All Paths

Devanagari script

नम: कारणमत्स्याय प्रलयाब्धिचराय च । हयशीर्ष्णे नमस्तुभ्यं मधुकैटभमृत्यवे ॥ १७ ॥ अकूपाराय बृहते नमो मन्दरधारिणे । क्षित्युद्धारविहाराय नम: शूकरमूर्तये ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

namaḥ kāraṇa-matsyāya pralayābdhi-carāya ca hayaśīrṣṇe namas tubhyaṁ madhu-kaiṭabha-mṛtyave

Translation

顶礼于创世之因的摩蹉（Matsya）主，游行于劫坏之海者；顶礼于马首（Hayagrīva/Hayashīrṣa）主，诛灭摩度与凯塔婆者；顶礼于广大之龟（Kūrma）主，承托曼陀罗山者；顶礼于野猪化身（Varāha）主，欢喜举起大地者。

Synonyms

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana-prayoga (सम्बोधन-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interjection/indeclinable salutation (नमः-प्रयोगः, अव्ययवत्)

• kāraṇa-matsyāya: to the primeval Fish
• kāraṇa-matsyāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa + matsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• pralaya-abdhi-carāya: to the one who moves in the deluge-ocean
• pralaya-abdhi-carāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pralaya + abdhi + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थ-अव्यय)

• haya-śīrṣṇe: to Hayagrīva
• haya-śīrṣṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya + śīrṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambodhana-prayoga (सम्बोधन-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interjection/indeclinable salutation (नमः-प्रयोगः)

• tubhyam: to you
• tubhyam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• madhu-kaiṭabha-mṛtyave: to the slayer of Madhu and Kaiṭabha
• madhu-kaiṭabha-mṛtyave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu + kaiṭabha + mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

Purport

The Viśva-kośa dictionary states that the word akūpārāya indicates the king of tortoises.

Characters & Entities

• Matsya
• Hayagriva
• Madhu
• Kaitabha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Matsya avatara and pralaya (cosmic dissolution)?

This verse worships the Lord as Matsya who moves in the ocean of dissolution, emphasizing His protection and guidance even when the universe is submerged in pralaya.

Why does Akrura praise different incarnations while going to meet Krishna and Balarama?

In this chapter Akrura’s devotion overflows as he approaches the Supreme Lord; he recognizes Krishna as the source of all avatāras and therefore offers prayers to multiple divine forms.

Practical application of remembering the Lord during ‘pralaya-like’ times in modern life?

When life feels unstable or overwhelming, this verse teaches taking shelter through prayer and remembrance, trusting the Lord as the protector who guides across every upheaval.