Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 19

Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage

Devanagari script

तं गोपायति राजेन्द्र शक्र: शरणमागतम् । तेन संस्तम्भित: सर्पस्तस्मान्नाग्नौ पतत्यसौ ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ gopāyati rājendra śakraḥ śaraṇam āgatam tena saṁstambhitaḥ sarpas tasmān nāgnau pataty asau

Translation

The brāhmaṇas replied: O best of kings, the snake Takṣaka has not fallen into the fire because he is being protected by Indra, whom he has approached for shelter. Indra is holding him back from the fire.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गोपायति: protects
• गोपायति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (राज्ञाम् इन्द्रः)

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आगतम्: having come (for refuge)
• आगतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) → आगत (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; शरणम् इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• संस्तम्भितः: restrained, held back
• संस्तम्भितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्तम्भ् (धातु) → संस्तम्भित (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (made rigid/held back)

• सर्पः: the serpent
• सर्पः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that (cause)
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अग्नौ: into the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पतति: falls
• पतति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Serpent (Nāga/Sarpa)
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter (śaraṇāgati) for protection?

This verse states that one who has taken shelter is protected—here, Indra restrains the serpent, showing that higher divine arrangement safeguards the surrendered soul.

Why is Indra (Śakra) mentioned as protecting the surrendered person in Bhagavatam 12.6.19?

Śukadeva highlights that even the devas act within divine order to protect a surrendered person; Indra’s restraint of the serpent illustrates protection granted to one under shelter.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Practice genuine śaraṇāgati—seek refuge in the Lord through devotion, prayer, and dharmic living—trusting that obstacles are ultimately governed by a higher protection and purpose.