Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 46

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

शिरो मत्पादयो: कृत्वा बाहुभ्यां च परस्परम् । प्रपन्नं पाहि मामीश भीतं मृत्युग्रहार्णवात् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

śiro mat-pādayoḥ kṛtvā bāhubhyāṁ ca parasparam prapannaṁ pāhi mām īśa bhītaṁ mṛtyu-grahārṇavāt

Translation

Placing his head at the feet of the Deity, he should then stand with folded hands before the Lord and pray, “O my Lord, please protect me, who am surrendered unto You. I am most fearful of this ocean of material existence, standing as I am in the mouth of death.”

Synonyms

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• mat-pādayoḥ: at my two feet
• mat-pādayoḥ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mat-pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual

• kṛtvā: having placed/made
• kṛtvā: Purvakala-Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (Ktva/क्त्वा)

• bāhubhyām: with both arms
• bāhubhyām: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• parasparam: mutually/together (clasping)
• parasparam: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb

• prapannam: surrendered
• prapannam: Visheshana (Qualifier to Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-pad (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (Kta/क्त), Accusative, Singular, Masculine

• pāhi: protect
• pāhi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (Lot/लोट्), 2nd Person (Madhyama), Singular

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• īśa: O Lord
• īśa: Sambodhya (Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• bhītam: afraid
• bhītam: Visheshana (Qualifier to Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhī (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (Kta/क्त), Accusative, Singular, Masculine

• mṛtyu-graha-arṇavāt: from the ocean of the crocodile of death
• mṛtyu-graha-arṇavāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu-graha-arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 11.27.46 teach about surrender to Krishna?

It teaches that a devotee should physically and mentally take shelter of the Lord—bowing at His feet and clinging to Him in devotion—while praying for protection as a surrendered soul.

Why does Krishna describe death as a crocodile in an ocean?

The verse portrays saṁsāra as a vast ocean where death can seize anyone unexpectedly, like a crocodile; therefore the safest refuge is wholehearted surrender to the Lord.

How can I apply this verse in daily life when I feel anxious or afraid?

Turn fear into prayer: remember the Lord, offer a humble surrender (“I am Yours—please protect me”), and take shelter of devotional practice (especially sincere worship and remembrance) as your steady refuge.