Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 56

Prahlāda Rejects Material Boons; Forgives His Father; Tripura and the Power of Remembrance

Devanagari script

ततस्ते सेश्वरा लोका उपासाद्येश्वरं नता: । त्राहि नस्तावकान्देव विनष्टांस्त्रिपुरालयै: ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

tatas te seśvarā lokā upāsādyeśvaraṁ natāḥ trāhi nas tāvakān deva vinaṣṭāṁs tripurālayaiḥ

Translation

Thereafter, when the demons had begun to destroy the higher planetary systems, the rulers of those planets went to Lord Śiva, fully surrendered unto him and said: Dear Lord, we demigods living in the three worlds are about to be vanquished. We are your followers. Kindly save us.

Synonyms

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to lokāḥ)

• स-ईश्वराः: with their rulers
• स-ईश्वराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—ईश्वरयुक्ताः (with their lords)

• लोकाः: the worlds
• लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• उपासाद्य: having approached
• उपासाद्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having approached’

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नताः: bowed down
• नताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम् (धातु) → नत (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (लोकाः)

• त्राहि: protect!
• त्राहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नः: us
• नः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Genitive/Accusative enclitic), बहुवचन; here as object ‘us’

• तावकान्: your (own)
• तावकान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (नः)

• देव: O Lord
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विनष्टान्: ruined / destroyed
• विनष्टान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + नश् (धातु) → विनष्ट (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (तावकान्/नः)

• त्रिपुर-आलयैः: by the inhabitants of Tripura
• त्रिपुर-आलयैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—त्रिपुरस्य आलयाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara (the Supreme Lord)
• Tripurālayāḥ (inhabitants of Tripura)
• Seśvarā lokāḥ (worlds with their presiding deities)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter of the Supreme Lord during danger?

This verse shows the worlds and their presiding rulers approaching the Lord, bowing, and begging for protection—illustrating śaraṇāgati, the instinct of devotees to seek refuge in God when overwhelmed.

Why did the beings of the worlds pray to the Lord about the residents of Tripura?

They felt devastated by the Tripura-dwellers (Tripurāsuras) and therefore appealed to the Supreme Lord as their ultimate protector and master.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

When faced with fear or instability, one can practice surrender through prayer, humility, and remembrance of the Lord as the final shelter rather than relying only on limited worldly power.