Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 71

Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage

Devanagari script

अवनिपतिरिवासाधूनां भयमुदीरयन्नटति परित आशापालैस्तत्र तत्र कमलकोशाञ्जलिभिरुपहृतार्हण: ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

avani-patir ivāsādhūnāṁ bhayam udīrayann aṭati parita āśā-pālais tatra tatra kamala-kośāñjalibhir upahṛtārhaṇaḥ.

Translation

Wie ein irdischer König ziehst Du überall umher und verbreitest Furcht unter den Unheiligen, während die Gottheiten der Himmelsrichtungen Dir in gefalteten Händen Lotosblumen und andere ehrerbietige Gaben darbringen.

Synonyms

• avani-patiḥ: king (lord of the earth)
• avani-patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avani (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा-निपात)

• asādhūnām: of the wicked
• asādhūnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asādhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• udīrayan: raising, causing
• udīrayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + √īr (ईर्, धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with subject

• aṭati: wanders/roams
• aṭati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √aṭ (अट्, धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• paritaḥ: around
• paritaḥ: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paritaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• āśā-pālaiḥ: by the guardians of the directions
• āśā-pālaiḥ: Sahakārī/Karana (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśā (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (स्थानवाचक)

• tatra: there (and there)
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Repetition for distributive sense (द्विरुक्ति): ‘here and there’

• kamala-kośa-añjalibhiḥ: with handfuls (añjalis) of lotus-buds/lotus-sheaths
• kamala-kośa-añjalibhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक) + kośa (प्रातिपदिक) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• upahṛta-arhaṇaḥ: one whose worship has been offered
• upahṛta-arhaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa + √hṛ (हृ, धातु) → upahṛta (कृदन्त, क्त) + arhaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); ‘whose worship/offerings have been presented’

FAQs

Who are the Āśā-pālas (Dikpālas) mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

Āśā-pālas are the guardians of the directions—cosmic rulers who preside over the quarters—and here they are described as offering worship to the Supreme Lord in every direction.

What does Bhagavatam 12.6.71 teach about the Lord’s relationship with the wicked?

The verse says the Lord inspires fear in the impious like a powerful king, indicating His role as the supreme controller who restrains and overawes wrongdoing.

How can a devotee apply the message of this verse in modern life?

Remembering that the Lord is honored by the highest cosmic authorities strengthens faith and humility, encouraging one to seek shelter in devotion rather than fear worldly powers.