Shloka 57

Kṛṣṇa Leads Kālayavana to Mucukunda; The Yavana Is Burned; Mucukunda’s Prayers and Boon of Bhakti

Devanagari script

चिरमिह वृजिनार्तस्तप्यमानोऽनुतापै- रवितृषषडमित्रोऽलब्धशान्ति: कथञ्चित् । शरणद समुपेतस्त्वत्पदाब्जं परात्म- नभयमृतमशोकं पाहि मापन्नमीश ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

ciram iha vṛjinārtas tapyamāno ’nutāpair avitṛṣa-ṣaḍ-amitro ’labdha-śāntiḥ kathañcit śaraṇa-da samupetas tvat-padābjaṁ parātman abhayam ṛtam aśokaṁ pāhi māpannam īśa

Translation

O giver of shelter, for a long time I have suffered the world’s miseries and burned in remorse. My six enemies are never satisfied, and I have found no peace. Therefore, O Paramatma, O Lord, in danger I have by good fortune reached Your lotus feet—truth itself, granting fearlessness and freedom from sorrow. Please protect me.

Synonyms

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• वृजिन-आर्तः: afflicted by misfortune/sin
• वृजिन-आर्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of implied अहम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृजिन + आर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा (Nom, 1st), एकवचन (Sg); ‘distressed by sin/misery’

• तप्यमानः: being tormented
• तप्यमानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; participial predicate of speaker)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तप् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present passive participle, शानच्/मान); पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘being tormented’

• अनुतापैः: by regrets/afflictions
• अनुतापैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), तृतीया (Inst, 3rd), बहुवचन (Pl)

• अवितृष-षट्-अमित्रः: with the six enemies (unconquered)
• अवितृष-षट्-अमित्रः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of implied अहम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवितृष + षट् + अमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having six enemies (lust etc.) not subdued’ (ṣaḍ-ripu sense)

• अलब्ध-शान्तिः: without peace
• अलब्ध-शान्तिः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of implied अहम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलब्ध + शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (F), प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one whose peace is not obtained’ (predicate adjective)

• कथञ्चित्: somehow
• कथञ्चित्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• शरण-द: O giver of refuge
• शरण-द: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरणद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), सम्बोधन (Voc), एकवचन; ‘giver of refuge’

• समुपेतः: having approached
• समुपेतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उप-√इ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past active participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having approached’

• त्वत्-पद-अब्जम्: your lotus feet
• त्वत्-पद-अब्जम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of समुपेतः/approached)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वत् (युष्मद्) + पद + अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; ‘your lotus-feet’ (lit. lotus of (your) feet)

• परात्मन्: O Supreme Self
• परात्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), सम्बोधन (Voc), एकवचन; ‘O Supreme Self’

• अभयम्: fearless
• अभयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of त्वत्पदाब्जम्)

• ऋतम्: true; righteous
• ऋतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अशोकम्: sorrowless
• अशोकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (N), द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पाहि: protect
• पाहि: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पा (धातु, रक्षणे)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मा: me
• मा: Karma (कर्म/Object marker in expression ‘protect me’)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (prohibitive/negative particle) used here as enclitic with object: ‘me’ in sandhi (mā + āpannam)

• आपन्नम्: one who has fallen into distress
• आपन्नम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of पाहि; with implied माम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग (M), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; ‘fallen into (distress)’

• ईश: O Lord
• ईश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Mucukunda
• Sri Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about surrender (śaraṇāgati) to Krishna?

This verse shows a surrendered soul approaching Krishna’s lotus feet as the supreme shelter that gives fearlessness and freedom from sorrow, asking the Lord to protect one who has taken refuge.

Why did King Mucukunda pray like this to Sri Krishna?

After witnessing Krishna and realizing the futility of worldly struggle, Mucukunda confesses his long suffering under remorse and the six inner enemies, and therefore seeks Krishna’s protection and liberation.

Practical application of overcoming the six enemies in modern life?

Recognize how dissatisfaction and inner impulses disturb peace, then consciously take shelter of devotion—remembering Krishna, praying sincerely, and choosing disciplined, value-based actions over reactive habits.