Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 21

The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings

Devanagari script

कदाचिद्भग्नमानदंष्ट्रो दुर्जनदन्दशूकैरलब्धनिद्राक्षणो व्यथितहृदयेनानुक्षीयमाणविज्ञानोऽन्धकूपेऽन्धवत्पतति ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

kadācid bhagna-māna-daṁṣṭro durjana-danda-śūkair alabdha-nidrā-kṣaṇo vyathita-hṛdayenānukṣīyamāṇa-vijñāno ’ndha-kūpe ’ndhavat patati.

Translation

In the forest of the material world, the conditioned soul is sometimes bitten by envious enemies, which are compared to serpents and other creatures. Through the tricks of the enemy, the conditioned soul falls from his prestigious position. Being anxious, he cannot even sleep properly. He thus becomes more and more unhappy, and he gradually loses his intelligence and consciousness. In that state he becomes almost perpetually like a blind man who has fallen into a dark well of ignorance.

Synonyms

• कदाचित्: at some time
• कदाचित्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• भग्न-मान-दंष्ट्रः: with broken pride and fangs
• भग्न-मान-दंष्ट्रः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न (कृदन्त, भञ्ज् धातु) + मान (प्रातिपदिक) + दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य मानः दंष्ट्रा च भग्ना’ (whose pride and fangs are broken; i.e., humbled and powerless)

• दुर्जन-दन्द-शूकैः: by the snake-like wicked people
• दुर्जन-दन्द-शूकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + दन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + शूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘दुर्जनानां दन्दशूकाः’ (snakes/scorpions in the form of wicked men)

• अलब्ध-निद्रा-क्षणः: getting no moment of sleep
• अलब्ध-निद्रा-क्षणः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलब्ध (कृदन्त, लभ् धातु) + निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य निद्रायाः क्षणोऽपि न लब्धः’ (who has not obtained even a moment of sleep)

• व्यथित-हृदयेन: with a distressed heart
• व्यथित-हृदयेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यथित (कृदन्त, व्यथ् धातु) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘व्यथितं हृदयम्’ (with a pained heart)

• अनुक्षीयमाण-विज्ञानः: whose understanding is dwindling
• अनुक्षीयमाण-विज्ञानः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-क्षि (धातु) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्) from अनु-क्षि ‘to waste away’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य विज्ञानम् अनुक्षीयते’ (whose discernment is gradually diminishing)

• अन्ध-कूपे: into a blind well
• अन्ध-कूपे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘अन्धः कूपः’ (a blind well)

• अन्धवत्: like a blind man
• अन्धवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्धवत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: like a blind man)

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

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by 'andha-kūpa' (blind well)?

In this verse, 'andha-kūpa' symbolizes a dark pit of ignorance and entanglement where a person loses clear spiritual vision and becomes trapped in suffering due to misguided life choices and associations.

How does bad association (durjana-saṅga) affect a person according to Bhagavatam 5.14.21?

The verse says wicked people are like biting serpents—by their attacks one loses peace, sleep, and gradually one’s vijñāna (discernment), leading to a fall into deeper ignorance.

Practical application: how can I avoid the 'blind well' in modern life?

Guard your company, reduce ego-driven conflicts, and protect your clarity through sādhana—especially hearing and chanting about the Lord—so your discrimination is strengthened rather than eroded by toxic influence.