Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 5

Ambikā-vana Śiva-pūjā; Nanda Saved from the Serpent; Śaṅkhacūḍa Slain

Devanagari script

कश्चिन्महानहिस्तस्मिन् विपिनेऽतिबुभुक्षित: । यद‍ृच्छयागतो नन्दं शयानमुरगोऽग्रसीत् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

kaścin mahān ahis tasmin vipine ’ti-bubhukṣitaḥ yadṛcchayāgato nandaṁ śayānam ura-go ’grasīt

Translation

During the night a huge and extremely hungry snake appeared in that thicket. Slithering on his belly up to the sleeping Nanda Mahārāja, the snake began swallowing him.

Synonyms

• कश्चित्: someone, a certain (one)
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• महान्: great, huge
• महान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• अहिः: snake
• अहिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विपिने: in the forest
• विपिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अति-बुभुक्षितः: very hungry
• अति-बुभुक्षितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुभुक्षित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भुज्/भुक्ष् (धातु) desiderative sense)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण; अति- (अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + बुभुक्षित (very hungry)

• यदृच्छया: by chance
• यदृच्छया: Hetu/Nimitta (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदृच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे—‘by chance/accidentally’

• आगतः: having come
• आगतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• नन्दम्: Nanda
• नन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• शयानम्: lying down
• शयानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शी (धातु) + शयान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle)

• उरगः: the serpent
• उरगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अग्रसीत्: swallowed
• अग्रसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Nanda Mahārāja

FAQs

What happens to Nanda Mahārāja in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.34?

This verse states that a great, extremely hungry serpent in the forest happened upon Nanda while he was sleeping and swallowed him.

Who is narrating Bhagavatam 10.34.5 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these events to King Parīkṣit as part of Kṛṣṇa’s Vraja pastimes.

What is the practical lesson from Nanda being swallowed by a serpent in Krishna-lila?

Even the Lord’s devotees may face sudden danger, but the Bhagavatam repeatedly emphasizes that Kṛṣṇa’s protection ultimately prevails—encouraging steadiness, prayer, and remembrance in crises.