Shloka 16

Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma

Devanagari script

अप्यङ्‍‍‍‍‍घ्रिमूले पतितस्य मे विभु: शिरस्यधास्यन्निजहस्तपङ्कजम् । दत्ताभयं कालभुजाङ्गरंहसा प्रोद्वेजितानां शरणैषिणां नृणाम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

apy aṅghri-mūle patitasya me vibhuḥ śirasy adhāsyan nija-hasta-paṅkajam dattābhayaṁ kāla-bhujāṅga-raṁhasā prodvejitānāṁ śaraṇaiṣiṇāṁ ṇṛnām

Translation

Und wenn ich zu Seinen Füßen niederfalle, wird der allmächtige Herr Seine Lotoshand auf mein Haupt legen. Für jene, die bei Ihm Zuflucht suchen, weil sie vom mächtigen Schlangenwesen der Zeit zutiefst beunruhigt sind, vertreibt diese Hand jede Furcht.

Synonyms

• api: perhaps/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि = even/also)

• aṅghri-mūle: at the root of (his) feet
• aṅghri-mūle: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅghri + mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अङ्घ्र्योः मूलम्)

• patitasya: of (me) fallen
• patitasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (पत् धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine/Neuter Genitive singular; here with me: ‘of me who has fallen’

• me: of me/my
• me: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular सर्वनाम

• vibhuḥ: the Lord
• vibhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (विभु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śirasi: on (my) head
• śirasi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (शिरस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• adhāsyan: will place
• adhāsyan: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Luṭ/Periphrastic future (लुट्), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथम), Singular; with prefix adhi-

• nija-hasta-paṅkajam: his own lotus-hand
• nija-hasta-paṅkajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija + hasta + paṅkaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (निजस्य हस्तस्य पङ्कजम् = own lotus-hand)

• datta-abhayam: granting fearlessness
• datta-abhayam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: datta (दा धातु, क्त) + abhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय (दत्तम् अभयम्)

• kāla-bhuja-aṅga-raṁhasā: by the swift force of death’s arms
• kāla-bhuja-aṅga-raṁhasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla + bhuja + aṅga + raṁhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; बहु-षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समासार्थ: ‘by the swift body of the arms of Time (death)’

• prodvejitānām: of the terrified
• prodvejitānām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√dvej (द्विज्/द्वेष्-सम्बद्ध धात्वर्थ; कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Genitive plural; ‘of those frightened/terrified’

• śaraṇa-eṣiṇām: of those seeking refuge
• śaraṇa-eṣiṇām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa + eṣin (इष् धातु से कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (शरणम् एषिणः)

• nṛṇām: of men
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (नृ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

Characters & Entities

• Akrūra
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about seeking shelter from fear and time (kāla)?

This verse states that those frightened by the swift, serpent-like force of Time become fearless by taking shelter of the Lord, who grants protection (abhaya) to surrendered souls.

Why did Akrura pray to Krishna for the Lord’s lotus hand on his head?

As Akrūra approached Vṛndāvana to meet Kṛṣṇa, he expressed deep humility and surrender, longing for Kṛṣṇa’s personal touch as a sign of acceptance and divine protection.

Practical application of surrender (śaraṇāgati) in modern life?

Recognize life’s uncertainty and anxiety as symptoms of being driven by time, and respond by cultivating steady refuge in God through prayer, remembrance, and humble dependence rather than control and fear.