Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 21

Brahmā’s Boons, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Cosmic Tyranny, and Prahlāda’s Transcendental Qualities

Devanagari script

तस्योग्रदण्डसंविग्ना: सर्वे लोका: सपालका: । अन्यत्रालब्धशरणा: शरणं ययुरच्युतम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

tasyogra-daṇḍa-saṁvignāḥ sarve lokāḥ sapālakāḥ anyatrālabdha-śaraṇāḥ śaraṇaṁ yayur acyutam

Translation

Durch Hiraṇyakaśipus grausame Strafen gerieten alle Welten samt ihren Herrschern in größte Bedrängnis. Da sie anderswo keinen Schutz fanden, suchten sie, von Furcht erschüttert, schließlich Zuflucht bei Acyuta, der Höchsten Persönlichkeit Gottes, Viṣṇu.

Synonyms

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• उग्र-दण्ड-संविग्नाः: terrified by his fierce punishment
• उग्र-दण्ड-संविग्नाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + संविग्न (कृदन्त; सम् + विज्/विज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; समासः उग्रः दण्डः (कर्मधारय) + तेन संविग्नाः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; लोकाः इति विशेषणम्

• लोकाः: worlds/people
• लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• स-पालकाः: along with their rulers/guardians
• स-पालकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत् ‘with’) + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः ‘पालकैः सह’ (together with their protectors)

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere
• अन्यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/विषय-अव्यय (adverb: elsewhere)

• अलब्ध-शरणाः: having found no refuge
• अलब्ध-शरणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलब्ध (कृदन्त; a- + लभ्) + शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; समासः शरणम् अलब्धम् येषाम् (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• ययुः: went
• ययुः: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (the infallible Lord)
• अच्युतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विष्णोः नाम (proper epithet)

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29) :

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Acyuta (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 7.4.21 teach about taking shelter of Acyuta?

It teaches śaraṇāgati (surrender): when worldly powers and protections fail, the ultimate refuge is Acyuta, the infallible Supreme Lord.

Why did the rulers of the worlds approach Viṣṇu in Canto 7 Chapter 4?

Because Hiraṇyakaśipu’s harsh rule and punishments terrified all beings, and they could not find safety anywhere else, so they sought Viṣṇu’s protection.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

When fear and instability arise, instead of relying only on external control, cultivate devotion and surrender through prayer, remembrance, and righteous living, taking the Lord as the deepest shelter.