Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 46

Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction

Devanagari script

तरुणं रमणीयाङ्गमरुणोष्ठेक्षणाधरम् । प्रणताश्रयणं नृम्णं शरण्यं करुणार्णवम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

taruṇaṁ ramaṇīyāṅgam aruṇoṣṭhekṣaṇādharam praṇatāśrayaṇaṁ nṛmṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ karuṇārṇavam

Translation

Nārada Muni fuhr fort: Die Gestalt des Herrn ist stets jugendlich; jedes Glied Seines Körpers ist vollkommen geformt, ohne Makel. Seine Augen und Lippen sind rötlich wie die aufgehende Sonne. Er ist immer bereit, der hingegebenen Seele Zuflucht zu gewähren, und wer Ihn erblickt, empfindet vollkommene Zufriedenheit. Er ist würdig, der Herr der Hingebenen zu sein, denn Er ist ein Ozean des Erbarmens.

Synonyms

• तरुणम्: youthful
• तरुणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रमणीय-अङ्गम्: having charming limbs
• रमणीय-अङ्गम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रमणीय + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारयः (रमणीयम् अङ्गं यस्य/यत्)

• अरुण-ओष्ठ-ईक्षण-अधरम्: with reddish lips, eyes, and lower lip
• अरुण-ओष्ठ-ईक्षण-अधरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरुण + ओष्ठ + ईक्षण + अधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (अरुणौ ओष्ठौ, अरुणे ईक्षणे, अरुणः अधरः—समाहार-विशेषणम्)

• प्रणत-आश्रयणम्: refuge of the bowed (devotees)
• प्रणत-आश्रयणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणत + आश्रयण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (प्रणतानाम् आश्रयणम्)

• नृम्णम्: might, vigor
• नृम्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृम्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गुणवाचक-नाम (might/valor)

• शरण्यम्: worthy of being taken as refuge
• शरण्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (worthy of refuge)

• करुणा-अर्णवम्: ocean of compassion
• करुणा-अर्णवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुणा + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (करुणायाः अर्णवः—ocean of compassion)

Purport

Everyone has to surrender to someone superior. That is always the nature of our living condition. At the present moment we are trying to surrender to someone — either to society or to our nation, family, state or government. The surrendering process already exists, but it is never perfect because the person or institution unto whom we surrender is imperfect, and our surrender, having so many ulterior motives, is also imperfect. As such, in the material world no one is worthy to accept anyone’s surrender, nor does anyone fully surrender to anyone else unless obliged to do so. But here the surrendering process is voluntary, and the Lord is worthy to accept the surrender. This surrender by the living entity occurs automatically as soon as he sees the beautiful youthful nature of the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva Mahārāja
• Śrī Viṣṇu (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter (śaraṇāgati) of the Lord?

This verse describes the Lord as praṇatāśrayaṇa—He becomes the refuge of those who bow to Him—and śaraṇya, the supreme protector worthy of surrender.

Why is the Lord described as an ocean of compassion (karuṇārṇava) in Dhruva’s story?

In Dhruva’s intense search and eventual vision of the Lord, the Bhagavatam emphasizes that the Lord responds mercifully to sincere devotion, revealing Himself as compassion personified.

How can a devotee apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Practice humility and surrender in prayer, remembering that the Lord is a reliable refuge for the sincere; approach challenges by seeking divine shelter rather than relying only on ego or anger.