Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 46

The Prayers of the Personified Vedas (Śruti-stuti) and the Indescribable Absolute

Devanagari script

श्रीनारद उवाच नमस्तस्मै भगवते कृष्णायामलकीर्तये । यो धत्ते सर्वभूतानामभवायोशती: कला: ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-nārada uvāca namas tasmai bhagavate kṛṣṇāyāmala-kīrtaye yo dhatte sarva-bhūtānām abhavāyośatīḥ kalāḥ

Translation

圣那罗陀说道：我顶礼于无垢名声的至上主克里希纳；为使一切众生得解脱，他显现出无数迷人的自身扩展与神圣分身。

Synonyms

• śrī-nāradaḥ: Shri Narada
• śrī-nāradaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: Said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Prathama Purusha, Singular

• namaḥ: Obeisance
• namaḥ: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle expressing obeisance

• tasmai: To Him
• tasmai: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular

• bhagavate: To the Lord
• bhagavate: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular

• kṛṣṇāya: To Krishna
• kṛṣṇāya: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular

• amala-kīrtaye: To the one of spotless fame
• amala-kīrtaye: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amala-kīrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular

• yaḥ: Who
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• dhatte: Manifests / Assumes
• dhatte: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धातु)
• Form: Lat Lakara (Present), Atmanepada, Prathama Purusha, Singular

• sarva-bhūtānām: Of all living beings
• sarva-bhūtānām: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural

• abhavāya: For liberation (cessation of birth)
• abhavāya: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular

• uśatīḥ: Charming / Auspicious
• uśatīḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uśat (प्रातिपदिक - from vaś)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural

• kalāḥ: Expansions / Forms
• kalāḥ: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural

Purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī remarks that Nārada’s addressing Śrī Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi as an incarnation of Lord Kṛṣṇa is perfectly appropriate, in accordance with the following statement of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.28) : ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ/ kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam. “All of the above-mentioned incarnations [including Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi] are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the original Personality of Godhead.”

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s spotless fame (amala-kirti)?

This verse praises Kṛṣṇa as “amala-kīrti,” meaning His glory is completely pure and liberating to hear and remember, because He is the Supreme Lord and the ultimate shelter beyond material contamination.

Why does Krishna manifest countless expansions (kalāḥ) according to the Bhagavatam?

The verse says He assumes innumerable portions and expansions “for the deliverance of all living beings,” indicating His avatāras and divine forms appear to guide, protect, and free souls from material bondage.

Practical application: how can this shloka help in modern life?

By regularly hearing and repeating Kṛṣṇa’s pure glories and remembering His compassionate purpose to uplift all beings, one gains steadiness in devotion, hope, and a liberation-oriented mindset amid daily pressures.