FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.59.24

अस्तौषीदथ विश्वेशं देवी देववरार्चितम् । प्राञ्जलि: प्रणता राजन् भक्तिप्रवणया धिया ॥ २४ ॥
astauṣīd atha viśveśaṁ
[astausheed atha vishvesham]
devī deva-varārcitam
[devee deva-varaarchitam]
prāñjaliḥ praṇatā rājan
[praanjalih pranataa raajan]
bhakti-pravaṇayā dhiyā
[bhakti-pravanayaa dhiyaa]
astauṣīt — praised atha — then viśva — of the universe īśam — the Lord devī — the goddess deva — of demigods vara — by the best arcitam — who is worshiped prāñjaliḥ — folding her palms praṇatā — bowed down rājan — O King (Parīkṣit) bhakti — of devotion pravaṇayā — full dhiyā — with a mentality .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
astauṣīd atha viśveśaṁ
astauṣīt
praised
atha
then
viśva
of the universe
īśam
the Lord
devī deva-varārcitam
devī
the goddess
deva
of demigods
vara
by the best
arcitam
who is worshiped
prāñjaliḥ praṇatā rājan
prāñjaliḥ
folding her palms
praṇatā
bowed down
rājan
O King (Parīkṣit)
bhakti-pravaṇayā dhiyā
bhakti
of devotion
pravaṇayā
full
dhiyā
with a mentality .
  • astauṣīt — she praised
    Imperfect of √stu (to praise). Stava/stotra is one of the nine limbs of bhakti (śravaṇam kīrtanam viṣṇoḥ...). Bhūmi's prayer that follows is a model stava — Gauḍīyas use it as one of several earth-goddess hymns alongside the prayers of Pṛthu's mother and other devotee-mothers.
  • prāñjaliḥ — with folded palms
    Compound: pra (forward) + añjali (cupped palms). The standard posture of supplication — Gauḍīyas note that bhakti always finds its hands first.
  • bhakti - pravaṇayā — with a mentality inclined toward devotion
    Compound: bhakti + pravaṇa (inclined, sloped toward). Bhakti is here described as the heart's natural slope — water finds the low ground; the devoted heart finds Bhagavān.
  • viśva - īśam — Lord of the universe
    Compound: viśva (universe) + īśa (Lord). The first epithet Bhūmi reaches for is cosmic — her grief is contained, theology comes first.
O King, after bowing down to Him and then standing with joined palms, the goddess, her mind filled with devotion, began to praise the Lord of the universe, whom the best of demigods worship.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O King, after bowing down to Him and then standing with joined palms, the goddess, her mind filled with devotion, began to praise the Lord of the universe, whom the best of demigods worship.
Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

After offering the stolen items, she, overwhelmed with devotion in her mind (dhiyā), in order to praise him, first offered respects and then folded her hands. Or lowering her head and folding her hands she began praising him, since he was Lord of the universe and thus worshipped by the best devatās like Brahmā. She praised him with such words.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

After offering the stolen items, she, overwhelmed with devotion in her mind (dhiyā), in order to praise him, first offered respects and then folded her hands. Or lowering her head and folding her hands, she began praising him, since he was Lord of the universe and thus worshipped by the best devatās like Brahmā. She praised him with such words. This was because she was dear to the Lord (devī) or shining (devī) with bhakti. This indicates that she knew the glories of the Lord. O king, please understand the meaning of the prayers.

Related values
Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Bhakti (Devotion)Yajña (Sacrifice / Spirit of Offering)Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to God)Vinaya (Humility / Modesty)Samata (Equanimity / Even-mindedness)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva
Bowing with joined palms, mind filled with devotion, the goddess begins to praise the Lord whom even chief demigods worship. After service comes praise; she takes up prayer posture.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do you forget to praise after delivering on a task?
  • How does explicit prayer complete service?

A mother who has just lost her son bows to the Person who took him and speaks to Him as Lord of the universe. Bhūmi's prāñjali — folded palms — is the most condensed teaching in the chapter: even in grief, the devotee's hands know which way to fold.

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