Shloka 18

Ambikā-vana Śiva-pūjā; Nanda Saved from the Serpent; Śaṅkhacūḍa Slain

Devanagari script

इत्यनुज्ञाप्य दाशार्हं परिक्रम्याभिवन्द्य च । सुदर्शनो दिवं यात: कृच्छ्रान्नन्दश्च मोचित: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

ity anujñāpya dāśārhaṁ parikramyābhivandya ca sudarśano divaṁ yātaḥ kṛcchrān nandaś ca mocitaḥ

Translation

So erhielt der Halbgott Sudarśana die Erlaubnis von Herrn Kṛṣṇa, umschritt Ihn ehrfürchtig, verneigte sich und kehrte dann in seine himmlische Sphäre zurück. Nanda Mahārāja wurde so aus der Gefahr befreit.

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• अनुज्ञाप्य: having obtained permission
• अनुज्ञाप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having requested/obtained permission’; उपसर्ग अनु

• दाशार्हम्: Dāśārha (Krishna)
• दाशार्हम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाशार्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (epithet of Kṛṣṇa)

• परिक्रम्य: having circumambulated
• परिक्रम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having circumambulated’; उपसर्ग परि

• अभिवन्द्य: having bowed
• अभिवन्द्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + √वन्द् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having bowed/saluted’; उपसर्ग अभि

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सुदर्शनः: Sudarśana (the person/being named)
• सुदर्शनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुन्दरं दर्शनं यस्य/सु-दर्शनः)

• दिवम्: to heaven
• दिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्यौः) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दिवम् as acc.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गन्तव्य (goal)

• यातः: went
• यातः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √या (धातु) क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गत्यर्थ

• कृच्छ्रात्: from distress
• कृच्छ्रात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• नन्दः: Nanda
• नन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• मोचितः: was freed
• मोचितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मुच् (धातु) णिच् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; causative past participle (released)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Dāśārha)
• Sudarśana
• Nanda Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting His devotees?

This verse shows that by Kṛṣṇa’s grace Nanda Mahārāja was freed from severe danger, while Sudarśana—Kṛṣṇa’s divine weapon—acts under His command, highlighting the Lord’s active protection of His devotees.

Why did Sudarśana circumambulate and offer obeisances to Krishna?

After receiving Kṛṣṇa’s permission, Sudarśana honors Him as the Supreme Lord by circumambulating and bowing, then returns to his celestial abode—showing that even the Lord’s empowered energies remain subordinate and reverent to Him.

How can devotees apply this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

In danger or anxiety, cultivate śaraṇāgati (sincere surrender) and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa, trusting that divine help comes in the right way—often through unseen protections—while maintaining gratitude and reverence for the Lord.