SB 4.1.24

TEXT 24

TEXT

प्रणम्य दण्डवद्भूमाव् उपतस्थे ऽर्हणाञ्जलिः ।
वृषहंससुपर्णस्थान् स्वैः स्वैश्चिह्नैश्च चिह्नितान् ॥ २४ ॥

pranamya dandavad bhumav

upatasthe 'rhananjalih

vrsa-hamsa-suparna-sthan

svaih svais cihnais ca cihnitan

pranamya-offering obeisances; dandavat-like a rod; bhumau-ground; upatasthe-fell down; arhana-all paraphernalia for worship; anjalih-folded hands; vrsa-bull; hamsa-swan; suparna-the Garuda bird; sthan-situated; svaih-own; svaih-own; cihnaih-by symbols; ca-and; cihnitan-being recognized.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter he began to offer prayers to the three deities, who were seated on different carriers-a bull, a swan and Garuda-and who held in their hands a drum, kusa grass and a discus. The sage offered them his respects by falling down like a stick.

PURPORT

Danda means a long rod, and vat means like. Before a superior, one has to fall down on the ground just like a stick, and this sort of offering of respect is called dandavat. Atri Rsi offered his respect to the three deities in that way. They were identified by their different carriers and different symbolic representations. In that connection it is stated here that Lord Visnu was sitting on Garuda, a big aquiline bird, and was carrying in His hand a disc, Brahma was sitting on a swan and had in his hand kusa grass, and Lord Siva was sitting on a bull and carrying in his hand a small drum called a damaru. Atri Rsi recognized them by their symbolic representations and different carriers, and thus he offered them prayers and respects.