Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 17

Kali-yuga’s Degradation, the Advent of Kalki, and the Reset of the Yuga Cycle

Devanagari script

चराचरगुरोर्विष्णोरीश्वरस्याखिलात्मन: । धर्मत्राणाय साधूनां जन्म कर्मापनुत्तये ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

carācara-guror viṣṇor īśvarasyākhilātmanaḥ dharma-trāṇāya sādhūnāṁ janma karmāpanuttaye

Translation

Lord Viṣṇu — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the spiritual master of all moving and nonmoving living beings, and the Supreme Soul of all — takes birth to protect the principles of religion and to relieve His saintly devotees from the reactions of material work.

Synonyms

• cara-acara-guroḥ: of the teacher of the moving and the unmoving
• cara-acara-guroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cara (प्रातिपदिक) + acara (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समासः (चराचरयोः गुरुः)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• īśvarasya: of the Lord
• īśvarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• akhila-ātmanaḥ: of the all-pervading Self (of all)
• akhila-ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; कर्मधारय-समासः (अखिलः आत्मा यस्य/अखिलात्मा)

• dharma-trāṇāya: for the protection of dharma
• dharma-trāṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + trāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समासः (धर्मस्य त्राणम्)

• sādhūnām: of the righteous (saints)
• sādhūnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• janma: birth
• janma: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• karma: activity (deeds)
• karma: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; coordinated with janma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• apanuttaye: for the removal (dispelling)
• apanuttaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apa-nud (धातु) → apanutti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; भाववाचक-प्रातिपदिक (removal)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu

FAQs

Why does Lord Vishnu take birth according to the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse says He appears to protect dharma, safeguard the saintly devotees, and remove the burden of karma through His divine activities.

Who is speaking Bhagavatam 12.2.17 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse to King Parīkṣit while describing the condition of Kali-yuga and the Lord’s role in restoring dharma.

How can I apply the message of this shloka in modern life?

Align your choices with dharma, seek the company of sādhus, and remember the Lord’s līlā as a source of protection and inner freedom from karmic anxiety.