Shloka 36

Pradyumna’s Abduction, Mahā-māyā, and the Slaying of Śambara

Devanagari script

विज्ञातार्थोऽपि भगवांस्तूष्णीमास जनार्दन: । नारदोऽकथयत् सर्वं शम्बराहरणादिकम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

vijñātārtho ’pi bhagavāṁs tūṣṇīm āsa janārdanaḥ nārado ’kathayat sarvaṁ śambarāharaṇādikam

Translation

主阎那尔达那虽已洞悉一切，却默然不语；而圣者那罗陀则将始于商婆掳走婴儿等一切经过尽皆说明。

Synonyms

• विज्ञात-अर्थः: knowing the matter
• विज्ञात-अर्थः: विशेषण (of bhagavān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विज्ञात (कृदन्त; वि+√ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव: विज्ञातः अर्थः यस्य (understood meaning)

• अपि: though / even
• अपि: निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तूष्णीम्: silently
• तूष्णीम्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूष्णीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: भाव-अव्यय (adverb: silently)

• आस: remained / stayed
• आस: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; स्थिति-अर्थक (was/remained)

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana
• जनार्दनः: सम्बोधन/अप्पोजिशन (appositive to bhagavān)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपनाम (epithet)

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अकथयत्: told / narrated
• अकथयत्: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; causative sense not intended here (simple past narration)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषणवत्

• शम्बर-आहरण-आदिकम्: the abduction by Śambara and the rest
• शम्बर-आहरण-आदिकम्: कर्म (object; appositive to sarvam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्बर + आहरण + आदि (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: शम्बरस्य आहरणम् (carrying off by Śambara) + आदि (etc.)

Characters & Entities

• Janārdana (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Nārada
• Śambara

FAQs

Why does Lord Krishna remain silent even though He knows everything in the Bhagavatam?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa’s omniscience—He already knows the full situation—yet He stays silent to let His devotee Nārada speak and to unfold the līlā in a way that instructs and benefits the listeners.

What did Nārada Muni explain about Śambara in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.55?

Nārada narrated the whole sequence of events starting from Śambara’s abduction of the child (Pradyumna) and the subsequent developments, giving the complete context to Kṛṣṇa and the assembly.

What is the practical lesson from Krishna’s silence and Nārada’s narration?

Even when one is capable or informed, humility and allowing wise devotees to speak can preserve harmony, reveal truth clearly, and help others learn through proper narration and guidance.