Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.56.6
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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nārāyaṇa
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O Lord Nārāyaṇa
The cosmic name — He whose abode is the waters (nāra-ayana) and whose abode is the living beings (nāra-ayana). The opening invocation reaches for the largest of the Lord's names first.
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dāmodara
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O Dāmodara
He whose belly (udara) was bound by a rope (dāma) — the Vraja-līlā name from chapter 10.9. Even in Dvārakā the citizens reach for the Vraja name, signalling that the same Bhagavān bound by Yaśodā stands before them.
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aravinda-akṣa
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O lotus-eyed one
Compound: aravinda (lotus) + akṣa (eye). The name that most distinguishes Kṛṣṇa across the canto — eyes wide as lotus petals. Gauḍīya iconography fixes on these eyes as the entry point into mādhurya.
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govinda
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O Govinda
He who gives pleasure to the cows, the senses, and the earth. The Brahmā-saṁhitā's mahā-mantra name. Even in Dvārakā the cowherd identity is the heart's name.
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yadu-nandana
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O darling son of the Yadus
Compound: yadu (the dynasty) + nandana (delight, son). The citizens' final word reminds the Lord — and themselves — that He has chosen Yadu-kula as His family. He is theirs.
They caught the attention of the Lord, who was absorbed in a dice game, by chanting his names.
In two verses, the people praise Kṛṣṇa in a general way by describing his pastimes displaying his inherent powers. O most powerful form because you give shelter to all jīvas (nārāyaṇa)! Because you have that nature you hold your conch, cakra and club to teach the wicked by your pastimes. With three phrases they praise him by describing his beautiful pastimes in Gokula, where he is controlled by prema. Controlled by your devotee you agreed to be bound around the waist (dāmodara)! You are most beautiful with lotus eyes! You are fond of herding the cows (govinda)! O revealer of great pastimes! Those were generally private pastimes, but now you are full of mercy. How can we describe this? O giver of joy to the Yadus (yadu-nandana)! You are directly present in the assembly for us to see.
O shelter of all jīvas (nārāyaṇa)! Holder of weapons to kill the demons! O Dāmodara, who accepted rope around the waist, controlled by your devotee! Having described his qualities, his form is described. O lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, most beautiful! Though rarely attained, now by great mercy you are easy to attain. O Govinda, you have appeared on earth (go). You give joy to the Yadus. You always sit in their assembly. Or you are most rare, as king of Gokula (govinda). No one else resides there. But now you are available as the joy of the Yadus in Dvārakā.
- Where could your ordinary speech to Kṛṣṇa become more layered with proper names?
- What casual address have you allowed to drift toward informality?
When something dazzling appears, the people of Dvārakā do not analyze it — they chant the holy names. Their prayer is a rosary of Kṛṣṇa's names strung onto a moment of fear, and the fear dissolves into the names.
The fallen brāhmaṇa Ajāmila, dying and surrounded by Yamadūtas, called out 'Nārāyaṇa' — meaning his son, but invoking the Lord. Viṣṇudūtas came at once and pulled him out of hell's noose by the name alone.
The Dvārakāvāsīs in this verse do exactly what saved Ajāmila — chain together Nārāyaṇa, Dāmodara, Govinda, Yadu-nandana the moment they need help. The reflex of a devotee city is to chant before it understands.
My note
Source: vedabase.io