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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.56.6

నారాయణ నమస్తేఽస్తు శఙ్ఖచక్రగదాధర । దామోదరారవిన్దాక్ష గోవిన్ద యదునన్దన ॥ ౬ ॥
nārāyaṇa namas te ’stu
[naaraayana namas te ’stu]
śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dhara
[shankha-chakra-gadaa-dhara]
dāmodarāravindākṣa
[daamodaraaravindaaksha]
govinda yadu-nandana
[govinda yadu-nandana]
nārāyaṇa — O Lord Nārāyaṇa namaḥ — obeisances te — unto astu — may there be śaṅkha — of the conchshell cakra — disc gadā — and club dhara — O holder dāmodara — O Lord Dāmodara aravinda - akṣa — O lotus-eyed one govinda — O Lord Govinda yadu - nandana — O darling son of the Yadus .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nārāyaṇa namas te ’stu
nārāyaṇa
O Lord Nārāyaṇa
namaḥ
obeisances
te
unto
astu
may there be
śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dhara
śaṅkha
of the conchshell
cakra
disc
gadā
and club
dhara
O holder
dāmodarāravindākṣa
dāmodara
O Lord Dāmodara
aravinda - akṣa
O lotus-eyed one
govinda yadu-nandana
govinda
O Lord Govinda
yadu - nandana
O darling son of the Yadus .
  • nārāyaṇa — 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.
  • dāmodara — 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.
  • aravinda-akṣa — 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.
  • govinda — 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.
  • yadu-nandana — 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.
[The residents of Dvārakā said:] Obeisances unto You, O Nārāyaṇa, O holder of the conch, disc and club, O lotus-eyed Dāmodara, O Govinda, O cherished descendant of Yadu!
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
[The residents of Dvārakā said:] Obeisances unto You, O Nārāyaṇa, O holder of the conch, disc and club, O lotus-eyed Dāmodara, O Govinda, O cherished descendant of Yadu!
Commentary

They caught the attention of the Lord, who was absorbed in a dice game, by chanting his names.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

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.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

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.

Related values
Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Yajña (Sacrifice / Spirit of Offering)Asteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Saurya (Heroism / Bravery)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Samata (Equanimity / Even-mindedness)Dana (Charity / Generosity)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Nyaya (Justice / Righteous Judgment)Raksha (Protective Responsibility)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva

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.

Ajāmila and the name Nārāyaṇa

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

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