Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 21

The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings

Devanagari script

कदाचिद्भग्नमानदंष्ट्रो दुर्जनदन्दशूकैरलब्धनिद्राक्षणो व्यथितहृदयेनानुक्षीयमाणविज्ञानोऽन्धकूपेऽन्धवत्पतति ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

kadācid bhagna-māna-daṁṣṭro durjana-danda-śūkair alabdha-nidrā-kṣaṇo vyathita-hṛdayenānukṣīyamāṇa-vijñāno ’ndha-kūpe ’ndhavat patati.

Translation

Im Wald der materiellen Welt wird er bisweilen von neidischen Feinden, Schlangen gleich, gebissen; sein Ansehen zerbricht. Von Sorge gequält findet er keinen Augenblick Schlaf; mit wundem Herzen schwindet seine Einsicht, und wie ein Blinder stürzt er in den dunklen Brunnen der Unwissenheit.

Synonyms

• कदाचित्: at some time
• कदाचित्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• भग्न-मान-दंष्ट्रः: with broken pride and fangs
• भग्न-मान-दंष्ट्रः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न (कृदन्त, भञ्ज् धातु) + मान (प्रातिपदिक) + दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य मानः दंष्ट्रा च भग्ना’ (whose pride and fangs are broken; i.e., humbled and powerless)

• दुर्जन-दन्द-शूकैः: by the snake-like wicked people
• दुर्जन-दन्द-शूकैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + दन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + शूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘दुर्जनानां दन्दशूकाः’ (snakes/scorpions in the form of wicked men)

• अलब्ध-निद्रा-क्षणः: getting no moment of sleep
• अलब्ध-निद्रा-क्षणः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलब्ध (कृदन्त, लभ् धातु) + निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य निद्रायाः क्षणोऽपि न लब्धः’ (who has not obtained even a moment of sleep)

• व्यथित-हृदयेन: with a distressed heart
• व्यथित-हृदयेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यथित (कृदन्त, व्यथ् धातु) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘व्यथितं हृदयम्’ (with a pained heart)

• अनुक्षीयमाण-विज्ञानः: whose understanding is dwindling
• अनुक्षीयमाण-विज्ञानः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-क्षि (धातु) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्) from अनु-क्षि ‘to waste away’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘यस्य विज्ञानम् अनुक्षीयते’ (whose discernment is gradually diminishing)

• अन्ध-कूपे: into a blind well
• अन्ध-कूपे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘अन्धः कूपः’ (a blind well)

• अन्धवत्: like a blind man
• अन्धवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्धवत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: like a blind man)

• पतति: falls
• पतति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by 'andha-kūpa' (blind well)?

In this verse, 'andha-kūpa' symbolizes a dark pit of ignorance and entanglement where a person loses clear spiritual vision and becomes trapped in suffering due to misguided life choices and associations.

How does bad association (durjana-saṅga) affect a person according to Bhagavatam 5.14.21?

The verse says wicked people are like biting serpents—by their attacks one loses peace, sleep, and gradually one’s vijñāna (discernment), leading to a fall into deeper ignorance.

Practical application: how can I avoid the 'blind well' in modern life?

Guard your company, reduce ego-driven conflicts, and protect your clarity through sādhana—especially hearing and chanting about the Lord—so your discrimination is strengthened rather than eroded by toxic influence.