Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.7.23
तत्तेजसा हतरुच: सन्नजिह्वा: ससाध्वसा: ।
मूर्ध्ना धृताञ्जलिपुटा उपतस्थुरधोक्षजम् ॥ २३ ॥
tat-tejasā hata-rucaḥ
[tat-tejasaa hata-ruchah]
sanna-jihvāḥ sa-sādhvasāḥ
[sanna-jihvaah sa-saadhvasaah]
mūrdhnā dhṛtāñjali-puṭā
[moordhnaa dhritaanjali-putaa]
upatasthur adhokṣajam
[upatasthur adhokshajam]
Word-for-word
tat-tejasā
—
by the glaring effulgence of His body
hata-rucaḥ
—
having faded lusters
sanna-jihvāḥ
—
having silent tongues
sa-sādhvasāḥ
—
having fear of Him
mūrdhnā
—
with the head
dhṛta-añjali-puṭāḥ
—
with hands touched to the head
upatasthuḥ
—
prayed
adhokṣajam
—
to Adhokṣaja, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tat-tejasā hata-rucaḥ
tat-tejasā
by the glaring effulgence of His body
hata-rucaḥ
having faded lusters
sanna-jihvāḥ sa-sādhvasāḥ
sanna-jihvāḥ
having silent tongues
sa-sādhvasāḥ
having fear of Him
mūrdhnā dhṛtāñjali-puṭā
mūrdhnā
with the head
dhṛta-añjali-puṭāḥ
with hands touched to the head
upatasthur adhokṣajam
upatasthuḥ
prayed
adhokṣajam
to Adhokṣaja, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
In the presence of the glaring effulgence of the bodily luster of Nārāyaṇa, everyone else’s luster faded away, and everyone stopped speaking. Fearful with awe and veneration, all present touched their hands to their heads and prepared to offer their prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Adhokṣaja.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
With their effulgence fading in his luster, with choked voices, with agitated hearts, putting their folded hands on their heads, they offered prayers to Viṣṇu.
Sanna-jihvāh means choked voices. Sasādhvasāh means “in an agitated state.” They placed their hands on their heads.
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Personal Guidance
Before Nārāyaṇa's effulgence, everyone falls silent, awestruck. There is a quality of presence that simply stops your speech — and that silence is itself the most appropriate prayer.
Reflection Questions
- When did awe last shut me up, and how can I court more such moments?
- Where in my life is my talking actually a way to avoid awe?
My note
Source: vedabase.io