Shloka 29

Devanagari script

अतस्त्वामाश्रित: सौम्य कार्यगौरवसाधनम् । यथेन्द्रो विष्णुमाश्रित्य स्वार्थमध्यगमद् विभु: ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

atas tvām āśritaḥ saumya kārya-gaurava-sādhanam yathendro viṣṇum āśritya svārtham adhyagamad vibhuḥ

Translation

Darum, o sanfter Akrūra, stütze ich mich auf dich, der du eine gewichtige Aufgabe zu vollbringen vermagst; so wie der mächtige Indra bei Viṣṇu Zuflucht nahm, um sein Ziel zu erreichen.

Synonyms

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अतः, अव्यय)
• Form: Causal adverb (हेतु-अव्यय): ‘therefore/for this reason’

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म/object of āśritaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (त्वद्, सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular pronoun

• āśritaḥ: having taken refuge (in)
• āśritaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√śri (श्रि, धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; ‘having resorted to/taken refuge in’

• saumya: O gentle one
• saumya: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumya (सौम्य, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन) Singular; address

• kārya-gaurava-sādhanam: a means to accomplish a weighty task
• kārya-gaurava-sādhanam: Karma (कर्म/appositional object to tvām: ‘you as the means’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (कार्य, प्रातिपदिक) + gaurava (गौरव, प्रातिपदिक) + sādhana (साधन, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; compound: कार्यगौरवसाधनम् = ‘means for accomplishing a weighty task’ (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष chain)

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/comparative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (यथा, अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative conjunction/adverb (उपमा-अव्यय): ‘just as’

• indraḥ: Indra
• indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of adhyagamat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (इन्द्र, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular

• viṣṇum: Vishnu
• viṣṇum: Karma (कर्म/object of āśritya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (विष्णु, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular

• āśritya: having resorted to
• āśritya: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√śri (श्रि, धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), having resorted to

• svārtham: his own purpose
• svārtham: Karma (कर्म/object of adhyagamat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (स्व, प्रातिपदिक) + artha (अर्थ, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular; compound: स्वार्थम् = ‘one’s own purpose’ (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: ‘own-purpose’)

• adhyagamat: attained
• adhyagamat: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-√gam (गम्, धातु)
• Form: Imperfect/Aorist-like past (लुङ्), 3rd person Singular; parasmaipada: ‘attained/obtained’

• vibhuḥ: the mighty one
• vibhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (विभु, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा) Singular; epithet in apposition to indraḥ

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Akrūra
• Indra
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter (āśraya) to accomplish difficult tasks?

This verse highlights āśraya—seeking refuge in a capable protector—as a means to accomplish even weighty duties, illustrated by Indra attaining his goal by taking shelter of Lord Viṣṇu.

Why did Kaṁsa say this to Akrūra in Canto 10 Chapter 36?

Kaṁsa wanted Akrūra to carry out the difficult mission of bringing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā, so he appealed to Akrūra’s competence and loyalty, citing Indra’s dependence on Viṣṇu as an example of successful reliance.

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

When facing responsibilities beyond one’s strength, seek shelter in higher guidance—through prayer, devotion, and wise mentorship—rather than relying only on ego or anxiety.