Shloka 10

इत्थं स निश्चित्य पितामहो महा- नगाधबोधो भवत: पादपद्मम् । ध्रुवं प्रपेदे ह्यकुतोभयं जनाद् भीत: स्वपक्षक्षपणस्य सत्तम ॥ १० ॥

itthaṁ sa niścitya pitāmaho mahān agādha-bodho bhavataḥ pāda-padmam dhruvaṁ prapede hy akutobhayaṁ janād bhītaḥ svapakṣa-kṣapaṇasya sattama

Thus resolved, my grandfather— a great soul of unfathomable wisdom—certainly took firm shelter of Your lotus feet. O best of the saintly, he feared even the common people of this world, having seen You destroy his own party; therefore he sought the fearless refuge found only at Your feet.

इत्थम्thus
इत्थम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइत्थम् (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)
सःhe
सः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
निश्चित्यhaving ascertained
निश्चित्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/पूर्वक्रिया)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनिश्चित्य (√चि/√चित् with नि+; अव्ययभाव-क्त्वा)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), अव्यय; अर्थः ‘निर्णयम् कृत्वा’
पितामहःgrandfather (Prahlāda)
पितामहः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
महान्great
महान्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्
अगाध-बोधःof unfathomable understanding
अगाध-बोधः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootअगाध (प्रातिपदिक) + बोध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (agādhaḥ bodhaḥ yasya = whose understanding is unfathomable)
भवतःof you
भवतः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootभवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; आदरार्थ
पाद-पद्मम्the lotus feet
पाद-पद्मम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपाद (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (pādasya padmam = lotus-feet)
ध्रुवम्surely
ध्रुवम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
Formक्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: certainly)
प्रपेदेtook refuge/attained
प्रपेदे:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√पद् (धातु) with प्र-
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formहेतौ/निश्चये निपात (particle: indeed/for)
अकुतो-भयम्fearlessness
अकुतो-भयम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootअकुतः (अव्यय) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (akutaḥ bhayam = fear from nowhere)
जनात्from people
जनात्:
Apādāna (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Rootजन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन
भीतःafraid
भीतः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootभीत (√भी धातु; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कारण-विशेषणम्
स्व-पक्ष-क्षपणस्यof the destruction of his own party
स्व-पक्ष-क्षपणस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootस्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षपण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (sva-pakṣasya kṣapaṇam = destruction of one’s own side)
सत्तमO best of the virtuous
सत्तम:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootसत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; श्रेष्ठार्थक
B
Brahmā

FAQs

This verse teaches that true fearlessness arises by taking firm shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet, which are described as the refuge free from fear in every direction.

Brahmā, though supremely intelligent, feared the destruction of his own followers amid the conflict, so he sought the Lord’s protection as the only secure shelter.

When overwhelmed by threats to one’s responsibilities or community, this verse advises turning to steady devotional shelter—prayer, remembrance, and dependence on the Lord—rather than panic or pride.