Srimad Bhagavata Skanda 2 – Shuka Gita
"The Lord Sriman Narayana is the very essence of divine virtues, self-sustained, radiant with light, overflowing with boundless knowledge and bliss. He is the ‘Creator of The Universe,’ which encompasses countless forms of Himself, both the living beings and the non-living things. He sustains, transforms, and governs it all — bestowing both ignorance and wisdom, binding beings to the cycle of birth and death, and offering liberation to those who seek moksha. Thus, He is the Param, the Supreme.
In the dawn of creation, He manifested the first being, the four-faced Brahma, and gifted him the knowledge required to bring the cosmos into being. Through His blessings, wisdom unfolds. Though He seeks no gain for Himself, He creates and upholds the cosmos for the welfare of all living beings, endowed with all the wisdom necessary for such a grand design. For He is neither a juggler, nor a deceiver, crafting illusions in this world. Untainted by any flaw, He is the Satyam — the absolute truth.
With reverence, let us meditate upon Lord Sriman Narayana, the embodiment of Satyam and Param."
"The Srimad Bhagavata encompasses the entirety of Dharma, safeguarding the soul from falling by purifying it, and guiding the individual soul towards the divine path leading to the Lord. This sacred path calls for unwavering devotion — a life dedicated to honoring, worshipping, admiring, and praising the Lord, free from jealousy, expectation, or deceit. As one treads upon this path, all obstacles dissolve, prosperity is bestowed, and the heart becomes imbued with virtue, turning one into a Sajjana, a virtuous soul. Above all, it fortifies bhakti, deepening one’s devotion.
Thus, the Srimad Bhagavata, composed by the Lord in the form of sage Veda Vyasa shines as a beacon of truth, revealing Himself as Supreme Soul eternally resides in the heart of every living being."
"Salutations to Lord Sriman Narayana, the eternal support of all, including the divine Goddess Lakshmi, and the very essence of the Srimad Bhagavata. Salutations to Lord Veda Vyasa, the revered composer of this sacred scripture. Salutations to Devi, the Goddess of Fortune, who perpetually serves the Lord and bestows the blessings of abundance upon all Bhagavatas, enriching them with the divine knowledge of Srimad Bhagavata — a wealth that encompasses Jnana, Bhakti, and Vairagya.
Salutations to the Gods Brahma and Vayu, the noblest of beings. Salutations to Sarasvati, the Goddess of Knowledge and Devotion, who inspires both wisdom and bhakti. Salutations to the divine Garuda, Sesha and Shiva, the greatest among the Vaishnavas.
Salutations to the Srimad Bhagavata, the sacred text that brings forth eternal victory and spiritual triumph."
The brightness of the Sun, Fire, Moon, Planets, Stars, Gems, Precious stones and Lightening put together is just like a firefly near the astonishing brilliance emanating from your lotus of Heart wherein the five forms of Lord Sri Rama, Sri Narasimha, Sri Veda Vyasa, Sri Krishna and Sriman Narayana are present in a significant way bestowing you the Brahmavarchas or the Sacred Knowledge.
Gentle & Holy Sage, Sri Raghavendra, I worship you by surrendering myself.
At the sacred forest of Naimishāraṇya, as Śaunaka and the assembled Ṛṣis listened in reverent silence, Śrī Sūta continued narrating the ancient dialogue between Śrī Śukacharya and King Parīkṣit. Standing at the threshold of death on the holy banks of Mother Gaṅgā, Parīkṣit had asked his earnest questions on the eternal mysteries of creation, sustenance, and liberation. In response, Śukacharya’s heart overflowed into a stream of praise—the verses known as the Śuka Gītā. These are not mere descriptions, but an unbroken garland of salutations to the Supreme Lord, Śrī Krishna—each verse resounding with truth, reverence, and boundless devotion.
नमः परस्मै पुरुषाय भूयसे
सदुद्भवस्थाननिरोधलीलया ।
गृहीतशक्तित्रितयाय देहिना
-मन्तर्भवायानुपलक्ष्यवर्त्मने ॥ १२॥
✨ Singing the praises of Lord, Sri Shukacharya says,
O Paramātma, Supreme Soul! You enter every being—moving and unmoving—and dwell within the lotus of each heart. Though You are untouched by prakṛti, You accept its threefold guṇas—sattva, rajas, and tamas—as mere play, creating this vast universe without effort.
You take on the roles of Brahmā the creator, Viṣṇu the sustainer, and Maheśvara the dissolver—manifesting in all these forms, yet remaining ever beyond them, sovereign and free.
भूयो नमः सद्वृजिनच्छिदेऽसता
-मसम्भवायाखिलसत्त्वमूर्तये ।
पुंसां पुनः पारमहंस्य आश्रमे
व्यवस्थितानामनुमृग्यदाशुषे ॥ १३॥
O Bhagavan! O Paramātma! I bow again and again at Your lotus feet, the refuge of all beings and the source of eternal grace.
You, O Supreme Protector and Well-Wisher, lift the burdens of saints and true devotees, bathing them in Your boundless love. To the fallen and the wicked, You extend deliverance—dispelling the veils of ignorance and revealing the path of redemption.
To the ascetic of pure resolve, You fulfill their noble desires, guiding them toward the highest spiritual fulfillment. Ever impartial, ever just, You bestow auspiciousness, fortune, and true prosperity upon all—according to their sincerity and surrender.
O Kṛṣṇa, You are untouched by pride, unmoved by force, and inaccessible to those who demand. Yet to the humble heart that offers bhakti, You reveal Yourself fully. I offer my soul in salutation, O Lord of all realms, ever near to those who seek You with love.
नमो नमस्तेऽस्त्वृषभाय सात्वतां
विदूरकाष्ठाय मुहुः कुयोगिनाम् ।
निरस्तसाम्यातिशयेन राधसा
स्वधामनि ब्रह्मणि रंस्यते नमः ॥ १४॥
O Lord Sri Krishna, Bhaktavatsala—tender-hearted protector of Your devotees—You hold them dearer than Your own self. You are not attained through force, demand, or pride; You reveal Yourself only through Bhakti Yoga—through love, surrender, and service born of pure devotion.
None can match Your sovereignty, none can approach the extent of Your divine opulence, and none can surpass You in glory. I offer my repeated salutations—again and again—at Your lotus feet, O Bhagavan, Supreme Creator, all-wealthy One, eternally residing in Your divine abode, beyond all realms, yet ever close to the hearts of those who seek You with love.
यत्कीर्तनं यत्स्मरणं यदीक्षणं
लोकस्य सद्यो विधुनोति कल्मषं
तस्मै सुभद्रश्रवसे नमो नमः ॥ १५॥
यद्वन्दनं यच्छ्रवणं यदर्हणम् ।
O Lord Kṛṣṇa, most celebrated and supremely auspicious! I offer my repeated salutations—again and again—at Your lotus feet, radiant with compassion and glory.
By singing Your glories, remembering Your sacred name, beholding Your divine form, bowing in reverence, listening to Your wondrous pastimes, and worshipping You with a sincere heart—sins are instantly destroyed, as darkness vanishes before the rising sun.
Your name alone sanctifies all who utter it with love. You are the purifier of the fallen, the refuge of the sincere, and the eternal wellspring of grace. May my voice never tire of praising You, and may my heart remain forever surrendered at Your feet.
विचक्षणा यच्चरणोपसादनात्
सङ्गं व्युदस्योभयतोऽन्तरात्मनः ।
विन्दन्ति हि ब्रह्मगतिं गतक्लमा
स्तस्मै सुभद्रश्रवसे नमो नमः ॥ १६॥
O Lord Kṛṣṇa, most celebrated and supremely auspicious! I offer my repeated salutations—again and again—at Your lotus feet, the eternal refuge of the wise.
To Your feet, the wise surrender—not for worldly gain, nor for heavenly pleasures—but to break free from all attachments, both of this world and the next. They seek nothing but Your divine presence alone, untouched by desire, unbound by reward.
You are the goal beyond goals, the joy beyond liberation. In You alone is fulfilment, and in Your remembrance, all other pursuits dissolve. May my heart follow the path of those wise ones, and may my soul rest forever at Your feet.
तपस्विनो दानपरा यशस्विनो
मनस्विनो मन्त्रविदः सुमङ्गलाः ।
क्षेमं न विन्दन्ति विना यदर्पणं
तस्मै सुभद्रश्रवसे नमो नमः ॥ १७॥
O Lord of eternal glory, whose fame sanctifies all the worlds—I offer my repeated salutations, again and again, at Your lotus feet.
Let one be the greatest of ascetics, a noble giver, a master of success and distinction; let one be tireless in work, profound in mysticism, flawless in chanting the Vedas, and strict in following every sacred code—still, without surrendering both their deeds and their very selves at Your feet, true emancipation remains beyond reach.
O Bhagavan! Wisdom without devotion is dry, discipline without surrender is hollow. Only in bowing to You—fully, without pride or condition—does the soul find lasting peace. You are the final refuge, the eternal sanctifier, the goal beyond all goals.
किरातहूणान्ध्रपुलिन्दपुल्कसा
आभीरकङ्का यवनाः खसादयः ।
येऽन्ये च पापा यदपाश्रयाश्रयाः
शुध्यन्ति तस्मै प्रभविष्णवे नमः ॥ १८॥
स एष आत्माऽऽत्मवतामधीश्वर-
स्त्रयीमयो धर्ममयस्तपोमयः ।
गतव्यलीकैरजशङ्करादिभि
-र्वितर्क्यलिङ्गो भगवान् प्रसीदताम् ॥१९॥
O Supreme Lord! Revered by the self-realized, sought by the Bhakti Yogis, and silently witnessed by the Karma Yogis immersed in sacred fire—You are the goal of all paths, the essence of all truths.
You are the living form of the Vedas, the embodiment of dharma for the righteous, and the very breath of renunciation for the ascetics. Even Brahmā and Śiva, adorned with cosmic wisdom, bow their heads in silent wonder—contemplating You within the pure lotus of their hearts, marveling at Your infinite attributes, and yearning for Your boundless grace.
O source of all light and truth, shower Your blessings upon me. Let my heart be a vessel for Your presence, and my soul a flame lit by Your mercy.
श्रियः पतिर्यज्ञपतिः प्रजापति-
र्धियाम्पतिर्लोकपतिर्धरापतिः ।
पतिर्गतिश्चान्धकवृष्णिसात्वतां
प्रसीदतां मे भगवान् सतांपतिः ॥ २०॥
May the Supreme Lord, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, be pleased with me.
He is the beloved consort of Goddess Śrī, the master of all sacrifices—Yajña-pati; the sovereign of all beings—Prajāpati; the Lord of wisdom, the ruler of the universe, and the eternal husband of Mother Earth.
He is the steadfast protector of the Yadu dynasty—of the noble clans of Andhaka, Vṛṣṇi, and Sātvata. He is the radiant source of all grace, the final refuge for the surrendered soul, the tender-hearted Bhaktavatsala, for whom the devotee is dearer than His own Self.
He is the all-in-all for ascetics, saints, and seekers of truth. Let such a Lord—glorious, compassionate, and ever-watchful—be pleased with me.
यदङ्घ्र्यभिध्यानसमाधिधौतया
धियानुपश्यन्ति हि तत्त्वमात्मनः ।
वदन्ति चैतत्कवयो यथारुचं
स मे मुकुन्दो भगवान् प्रसीदताम् ॥२१॥
At Your lotus feet, O Mukunda, the wise perform dhāraṇā, dhyāna, and samādhi—refining their intellect to grasp the truth, seeking both self-realization and the realization of You, the Supreme.
According to their insight and longing, they speak of Your countless attributes, each praising You in ways their heart understands. You are the giver of bhakti, the liberator through mukti, and the granter of stotra-śakti—the divine power to sing Your glories.
O bestower of devotion and liberation, radiant source of all truth and bliss—may You bless me with Your grace. Let my heart dwell in Your remembrance, and my voice rise in praise, forever.
प्रचोदिता येन पुरा सरस्वती
वितन्वताजस्य सतीं स्मृतिं हृदि ।
स्वलक्षणा प्रादुरभूत्किलास्यतः
स मे ऋषीणामृषभः प्रसीदताम् ॥२२॥
At the dawn of creation, O Supreme Lord, You dwelled within the lotus heart of Brahmā, rekindling the sacred knowledge of the cosmos. By Your divine will, You inspired Goddess Sarasvatī, the presiding deity of wisdom, to awaken the knowledge necessary for creation.
From the very mouth of Brahmā, by Your grace, emerged the six Vedāṅgas—the limbs of the Vedas: Śikṣā, the science of sound; Chandas, the rhythm of sacred meter; Vyākaraṇa, the rules of grammar; Nirukta, the root and meaning of words; Jyotiṣa, the knowledge of celestial patterns; and Kalpa, the guide to ritual and sacrificial order.
Thus was born the Sarasvatī of the Vedas—revealed through Your unmatched power, O origin of knowledge and strength. May You, the all-wise and all-compassionate Lord, be pleased with me. Let my speech be sanctified by Your grace, and my intellect illumined by Your light.
भूतैर्महद्भिर्य इमाः पुरो विभु-
र्निर्माय शेते यदमूषु पूरुषः ।
भुङ्क्ते गुणान् षोडश षोडशात्मकः
सोऽलङ्कृषीष्ट भगवान् वचांसि मे ॥ २३॥
O Supreme Lord! In Your boundless wisdom, You have fashioned this body from the five inert elements of prakṛti—earth, water, fire, air, and ether. Though lifeless on their own, You enter this form as Puruṣa—fully conscious, fully present, and ever distinct from creation.
You have crafted the five organs of perception, the five organs of action, the five vital prāṇa-śaktis, and the restless, ever-moving mind. Through these sixteen principles, You accept the sixteen-fold activities of the embodied being—yet remain untouched, sovereign, and supreme.
O Lord who dwells within this body of matter yet transcends it utterly—bless and elevate my speech, that I may glorify You with words filled with Your divine attributes. Let my voice become an offering, and my breath a hymn to Your eternal presence.
नमस्तस्मै भगवते वासुदेवाय वेधसे ।
पपुर्ज्ञानमयं सौम्या यन्मुखाम्बुरुहासवम् ॥२४॥
My salutations to the all-knowing Lord Veda Vyāsa, divine incarnation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Vasudeva Himself.
From Your lotus-like mouth flows a stream of wisdom—sweet as honey, endless as nectar squeezed from the heart of a honeycomb. The saints and the wise drink deeply from this sacred stream, ever nourished by the knowledge that springs from You alone.
O Vyāsa Bhagavān! You are the light of the Vedas, the revealer of dharma, the composer of the Mahābhārata, and the eternal guide for seekers of truth. May my heart remain forever devoted to Your words, and may my soul be illumined by Your grace.
एतदेवात्मभू राजन् नारदाय विपृच्छते ।
वेदगर्भोऽभ्यधात्साक्षाद्यदाह हरिरात्मनः ॥ २५॥
“O King Parakshit,” said Sri Shukacharya, “This sacred wisdom was first revealed by Lord Sriman Narayana to God Brahma. In turn, when Sage Narada inquired with humility, Brahma passed this divine knowledge to him. And now, by that same unbroken chain of truth, I have shared it with you.”
इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंस्यां
संहितायां द्वितीयस्कन्धे चतुर्थोऽध्यायः ॥ ४॥
With this, we humbly conclude the fourth adhyāya of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Skanda 2.
This offering has been made possible solely by the grace of Guru Śrī Rāghavendra Swāmy and his revered paramparā, and by the blessings of our philosophical companions—Śrī Śaunaka, the assembled ṛṣis, Śrī Sūta, and Śrī Śuka—whose dialogic wisdom continues to illuminate our understanding.
To their presence we add the subtle guidance of Vāyu Deva, Śrī Hari, and their divine consorts, whose jñāna-prasāda lights the path of devotion (bhakti) and discernment (viveka). May this sacred transmission deepen our surrender and refine our vision of the eternal.
Śrī Purandara Dāsaru has composed a gīta seeking refuge at the feet of Śrī Gaṇeśa, who Himself remains ever under the refuge of Lord Śrī Viśvambara, the indwelling Supreme. To immerse in this sacred song rendered by Dr. Rajkumar, listen to: Sharanu Siddhi Vinayaka
Lyrics & Translationsharaṇu siddhi vināyaka, sharaṇu vidyā pradāyaka
I seek refuge in Siddhi Vinayaka, the bestower of wisdom and learning.
sharaṇu pārvatī tanaya mūrti, sharaṇu mūṣaka vāhana
I surrender to the son of Goddess Pārvatī, the one who rides the mouse as His vehicle.
niṭila nētrana dēvi sutane, nāgabhūṣaṇa priyane
O Son of the Divine Mother, with radiant forehead and eyes, beloved of those adorned with serpent ornaments.
taṭila tāṅkita kōmalāṅgane, karṇa kuṇḍala dhārane
Whose tender body glows like lightning, and who wears earrings that shine with grace.
baṭṭa muttina padaka hārane, bāhu hasta chatuṣṭane
Adorned with pearl garlands and sacred pendants, possessing four powerful arms.
iṭṭa tōḍugeya hēma kaṅkaṇa, pāśa aṅkuśa dhārane
Wearing golden bracelets and bangles, holding the noose and goad with divine authority.
kukṣi mahā lambōdarane, ikṣucāpana gelidane
O Lambodara, the great one with a noble belly, who conquered the sugarcane bow.
pakṣi vāhana, siri purandara viṭṭhalana nija dāsane
Who rides the celestial bird, and is the true servant of Śrī Purandara Viṭṭhala.
॥ Hari Om ॥
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