Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 14

Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat

Devanagari script

पश्यार्य व्यसनं प्राप्तं यदूनां त्वावतां प्रभो । एष ते रथ आयातो दयितान्यायुधानि च ॥ १३ ॥ एतदर्थं हि नौ जन्म साधूनामीश शर्मकृत् । त्रयोविंशत्यनीकाख्यं भूमेर्भारमपाकुरु ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

paśyārya vyasanaṁ prāptaṁ yadūnāṁ tvāvatāṁ prabho eṣa te ratha āyāto dayitāny āyudhāni ca

Translation

O ehrwürdiger älterer Bruder Balarāma, sieh die Gefahr, die die von Dir abhängigen Yadus getroffen hat. Geliebter Herr, Dein eigener Wagen und Deine liebsten Waffen sind vor Dich gekommen. O Īśvara, zu diesem Zweck sind Wir geboren: zum Heil der Sādhus; so nimm nun der Erde die Last dieser dreiundzwanzig Heere.

Synonyms

• एतदर्थम्: for this purpose
• एतदर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (determinative): एतस्य अर्थः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतुबोधक

• नौ: of us (two)
• नौ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन (Genitive/Locative dual) ‘of us / for us’; अत्र षष्ठी (our) अधिकरणे

• जन्म: birth, incarnation
• जन्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• साधूनाम्: of the righteous
• साधूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• ईश: O Lord
• ईश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• शर्मकृत्: maker of welfare (giver of peace)
• शर्मकृत्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) + क्विप् (कृत्)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास: शर्म करोति इति; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा एकवचन (context: vocative addressing); कर्तृवाचक कृदन्त (agent noun)

• त्रयोविंशत्यनीकाख्यम्: called ‘twenty-three-divisions’
• त्रयोविंशत्यनीकाख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयोविंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अनीक (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाससमूहः: (1) त्रयोविंशति-अनीक (Dvigu-like numeric determinative) ‘having twenty-three divisions’; (2) तदाख्यम् (Tatpurusha) ‘named that’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘भारम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• भूमेः: of the earth
• भूमेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• भारम्: burden
• भारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• अपाकुरु: remove, drive away
• अपाकुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-आ-कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Yadus

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter of Krishna during distress?

This verse shows devotees turning to Krishna as their protector when calamity strikes, acknowledging that even protected communities face trials but Krishna remains the refuge.

Why is Krishna offered His chariot and weapons in this verse?

Because an urgent threat has arisen for the Yadus, and the speaker urges Krishna to act—His chariot and weapons symbolize readiness to protect dharma and His devotees.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life when problems come?

Respond to crises by remembering your spiritual shelter, acting responsibly, and relying on God’s guidance rather than panic—faith and steady duty together.