Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 14

Varṣa-devatā Worship in Jambūdvīpa: Hayagrīva/Hayaśīrṣa, Nṛsiṁha, Kāmadeva (Pradyumna), Matsya, Kūrma, and Varāha

Devanagari script

तस्माद्रजोरागविषादमन्यु- मानस्पृहाभयदैन्याधिमूलम् । हित्वा गृहं संसृतिचक्रवालं नृसिंहपादं भजताकुतोभयमिति ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

tasmād rajo-rāga-viṣāda-manyu- māna-spṛhā-bhayadainyādhimūlam hitvā gṛhaṁ saṁsṛti-cakravālaṁ nṛsiṁha-pādaṁ bhajatākutobhayam iti

Translation

Therefore, O demons, give up the so-called happiness of family life and simply take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, which are the actual shelter of fearlessness. Entanglement in family life is the root cause of material attachment, indefatigable desires, moroseness, anger, despair, fear and the desire for false prestige, all of which result in the repetition of birth and death.

Synonyms

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• रजः-राग-विषाद-मन्यु-मान-स्पृहा-भय-दैन्य-आधि-मूलम्: having as its root the afflictions of passion, attachment, grief, anger, pride, longing, fear, misery, and anxiety
• रजः-राग-विषाद-मन्यु-मान-स्पृहा-भय-दैन्य-आधि-मूलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रजस्+राग+विषाद+मन्यु+मान+स्पृहा+भय+दैन्य+आधि+मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-प्रधान (X-आधि-मूलम् = whose root/cause is these); ‘गृहम्’ विशेषण

• हित्वा: having abandoned
• हित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• गृहम्: home/household
• गृहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• संसृति-चक्रवालम्: the enclosure/whirlpool of transmigration
• संसृति-चक्रवालम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसृति+चक्रवाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (संसृतेः चक्रवालम्); ‘गृहम्’ विशेषण

• नृसिंह-पादम्: the feet of Narasiṁha
• नृसिंह-पादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृसिंह+पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नृसिंहस्य पादः)

• भजत: worship/serve
• भजत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अकुतोभयम्: fearless (from any quarter)
• अकुतोभयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकुतोभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (कुतः अपि भयम् न यस्य सः) — ‘नृसिंहपादम्’ विशेषण

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्ति सूचक (quotative particle)

Characters & Entities

• Prahlāda Mahārāja
• Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the root cause of fear and anxiety?

This verse says fear and anxiety arise from the root of material passion and attachment—expressed as craving, pride, anger, lamentation, and related mental distress—and it advises taking shelter of Lord Nṛsiṁha’s feet to become fearless.

Why does Prahlāda Mahārāja tell devotees to give up the ‘fortress’ of household life?

Prahlāda describes worldly home-attachment as a stronghold of saṁsāra because it often nourishes rajo-guṇa and the chain of emotions that bind the soul; he urges devotion to Lord Nṛsiṁha as the real refuge.

How can I apply ‘bhajatākuto-bhayam’ (worship the fearless Lord) in modern life?

Reduce attachment-driven habits that trigger anxiety (craving, anger, pride) and daily take shelter through prayer, chanting, and remembrance of Lord Nṛsiṁha, cultivating dependence on Bhagavān rather than on unstable material security.