Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 37

Bhṛgu Tests the Trimūrti; Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Visit Mahā-Viṣṇu and Recover the Brāhmaṇa’s Sons

Devanagari script

न्यरुणत् सूतिकागारं शरैर्नानास्‍त्रयोजितै: । तिर्यगूर्ध्वमध: पार्थश्चकार शरपञ्जरम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

nyaruṇat sūtikāgāraṁ śarair nānāstra-yojitaiḥ tiryag ūrdhvam adhaḥ pārthaś cakāra śara-pañjaram

Translation

Arjuna fenced in the house where the birth was taking place by shooting arrows attached to various missiles. Thus the son of Pṛthā constructed a protective cage of arrows, covering the house upwards, downwards and sideways.

Synonyms

• न्यरुणत्: he enclosed/blocked
• न्यरुणत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-रुध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सूतिका-आगारम्: the lying-in chamber
• सूतिका-आगारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतिका (प्रातिपदिक) + आगार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समास: सूतिकायाः आगारम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• नाना-अस्त्र-योजितैः: fitted with various weapons
• नाना-अस्त्र-योजितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + योजित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (शरैः); समास: नानाभिः अस्त्रैः योजिताः (तृतीया/बहुव्रीहि-प्रायः, व्यवहारतः तत्पुरुष-समासरूपेण)

• तिर्यक्: horizontally
• तिर्यक्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तिर्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative)

• अधः: downwards/below
• अधः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पार्थः: Pārtha (Arjuna)
• पार्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चकार: made/formed
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शर-पञ्जरम्: a cage/mesh of arrows
• शर-पञ्जरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + पञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समास: शराणां पञ्जरम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna (Pārtha)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about protecting the unborn child and the mother?

This verse shows Arjuna creating a complete protective barrier around the maternity chamber, emphasizing vigilant protection at the time of childbirth as a sacred duty.

Why did Arjuna build a cage of arrows around the maternity chamber in Canto 10 Chapter 89?

In the narrative, Arjuna attempts to prevent danger from entering the lying-in room by sealing it from every direction using arrows empowered by various astras.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Take responsibility for protection—create strong safeguards around what is vulnerable (new life, spiritual practice, family duties) using the best resources and disciplined vigilance.