Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 38

Kṛṣṇa Leads Kālayavana to Mucukunda; The Yavana Is Burned; Mucukunda’s Prayers and Boon of Bhakti

Devanagari script

कालत्रयोपपन्नानि जन्मकर्माणि मे नृप । अनुक्रमन्तो नैवान्तं गच्छन्ति परमर्षय: ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

kāla-trayopapannāni janma-karmāṇi me nṛpa anukramanto naivāntaṁ gacchanti paramarṣayaḥ

Translation

大王啊，至圣贤者们依次述说我在三时之中示现的降生与作为，却从未能抵达其尽头。

Synonyms

• kāla-traya-upapannāni: connected with the three times
• kāla-traya-upapannāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla + traya + upapanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (kāla-traya) + उपपन्न (PPP used adjectivally)

• janma-karmāṇi: births and deeds
• janma-karmāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (janma + karma)

• me: of me / my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• anukramantaḥ: (those) recounting in sequence
• anukramantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-kram (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: anu-

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• eva: indeed; just
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• antam: the end
• antam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• gacchanti: reach
• gacchanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• paramarṣayaḥ: the great sages
• paramarṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Mucukunda

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the limitlessness of Krishna’s pastimes?

This verse states that Kṛṣṇa’s births and deeds extend across past, present, and future, and even the greatest sages cannot reach the end of describing His unlimited glories.

Why did Krishna say this to King Mucukunda?

After granting Mucukunda His audience, Kṛṣṇa reveals His transcendental nature—His appearances and activities are beyond complete enumeration—strengthening Mucukunda’s surrender and devotion.

Practical application of remembering Krishna’s pastimes in modern life?

Regularly hearing and recounting Kṛṣṇa’s līlā cultivates humility and devotion, reminding one that spiritual growth comes through sincere hearing and service rather than trying to “finish” or fully measure the Divine.