Shloka 22

Trikūṭa Mountain, Ṛtumat Garden, and the Beginning of Gajendra’s Crisis

Devanagari script

गोपुच्छशालावृकमर्कटाश्च । अन्यत्र क्षुद्रा हरिणा: शशादय- श्चरन्त्यभीता यदनुग्रहेण ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

vṛkā varāhā mahiṣarkṣa-śalyā gopuccha-śālāvṛka-markaṭāś ca anyatra kṣudrā hariṇāḥ śaśādayaś caranty abhītā yad-anugraheṇa

Translation

By the mercy of that elephant, foxes, wolves, buffaloes, bears, boars, gopucchas, porcupines, monkeys, rabbits, other deer and many small creatures roamed elsewhere in the forest without fear; they were not afraid of him.

Synonyms

• vṛkāḥ: wolves
• vṛkāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• varāhāḥ: boars
• varāhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• mahiṣa-ṛkṣa-śalyāḥ: buffaloes, bears, and porcupines
• mahiṣa-ṛkṣa-śalyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + śalya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: buffaloes, bears, and porcupines

• gopuccha-śālā-vṛka-markaṭāḥ: gopucchas, jackals, and monkeys
• gopuccha-śālā-vṛka-markaṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopuccha (प्रातिपदिक) + śālā-vṛka (प्रातिपदिक) + markaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; द्वन्द्व (list-compound): gopuccha(s), śālāvṛka(s) (jackals), and monkeys

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय)

• anyatra: elsewhere
• anyatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• kṣudrāḥ: small
• kṣudrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; adjective qualifying hariṇāḥ etc.

• hariṇāḥ: deer
• hariṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hariṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• śaśa-ādayaḥ: hares and others
• śaśa-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रthमा), Plural; तत्पुरुष: śaśaḥ ādiḥ yeṣām = hares and others

• caranti: wander/graze
• caranti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• abhītāḥ: unafraid
• abhītāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-bhīta (भू धातु से क्त/कृदन्त; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; past participle used adjectivally; a- (negation) + bhīta = unafraid

• yat-anugraheṇa: by whose grace
• yat-anugraheṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम) + anugraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: yasya anugrahaḥ tena = by whose favor

Purport

All the animals were practically controlled by this elephant, yet although they could move without fear, because of respect they did not stand before him.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about becoming fearless by the Lord’s mercy?

This verse states that by the Lord’s favor (anugraha), even naturally fearful creatures can move about without fear—showing that divine protection can overcome ordinary causes of anxiety.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe animals roaming fearlessly in the Gajendra Moksha chapter?

He highlights the extraordinary effect of divine grace and protection, reinforcing the chapter’s theme that the Lord’s mercy can alter even the most threatening conditions.

How can I apply the teaching of ‘fearlessness by anugraha’ in modern life?

Cultivate reliance on the Lord through prayer, remembrance, and sincere devotional practice; the verse points to inner fear reducing when one trusts divine shelter rather than external circumstances.