Shloka 31

The Slaying of Narakāsura (Bhaumāsura), Rescue of the Princesses, and the Pārijāta Episode Begins

Devanagari script

तस्यात्मजोऽयं तव पादपङ्कजं भीत: प्रपन्नार्तिहरोपसादित: । तत् पालयैनं कुरु हस्तपङ्कजं शिरस्यमुष्याखिलकल्मषापहम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

tasyātmajo ’yaṁ tava pāda-paṅkajaṁ bhītaḥ prapannārti-haropasāditaḥ tat pālayainaṁ kuru hasta-paṅkajaṁ śirasy amuṣyākhila-kalmaṣāpaham

Translation

Here is the son of Bhaumāsura. Frightened, he has come to take shelter at Your lotus feet, for You remove the distress of all who surrender to You. Please protect him, and place Your lotus hand—destroyer of all sins—upon his head.

Synonyms

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive 6th (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ātmajaḥ: son
• ātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātma (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘ātmanah jātaḥ’ = ‘born of oneself/son’

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Singular (एकवचन)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive 6th (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• pāda-paṅkajam: your lotus-feet
• pāda-paṅkajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + paṅkaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative 2nd (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘pādayoḥ paṅkajam’ = ‘lotus of the feet’ (lotus-feet)

• bhītaḥ: afraid
• bhītaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √bhī (भी, धातु) + ta (क्त, PPP)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with ayam/ātmajaḥ

• prapanna-ārti-hara-upasāditaḥ: having approached (you), the remover of the afflicted surrendered
• prapanna-ārti-hara-upasāditaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prapanna (कृदन्त from √pad/√prapad, प्रपद्) + ārti (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक) + upasādita (कृदन्त from √sad with upa-ā, उपसादित)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); multi-member Tatpuruṣa: ‘prapannānām ārtiṃ harati’ (remover of distress of the surrendered) + ‘upasāditaḥ’ (approached/attained)

• tat: that (lotus-feet)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative (द्वितीया), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Singular (एकवचन); refers to pāda-paṅkajam

• pālaya: protect
• pālaya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pāl (पाल्, धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, imperative), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• enam: him
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative (द्वितीया), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Singular (एकवचन)

• kuru: place; make
• kuru: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ, धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, imperative), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• hasta-paṅkajam: your lotus-hand
• hasta-paṅkajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + paṅkaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘hastasya paṅkajam’ = ‘lotus-hand’

• śirasi: on the head
• śirasi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative 7th (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• amuṣya: of that person (him)
• amuṣya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive 6th (षष्ठी), Masculine/Neuter, Singular (एकवचन)

• akhila-kalmaṣa-apaham: removing all sins
• akhila-kalmaṣa-apaham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + kalmaṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + apaha (प्रातिपदिक from apa-√hṛ/√han sense ‘removing’)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘akhilasya kalmaṣasya apahaḥ’ = ‘remover of all sin’; agrees with hasta-paṅkajam (object of kuru)

Purport

Here the earth-goddess seeks protection for her grandson, who has been frightened by all the terribly violent events that just took place.

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Aniruddha
• Banasura

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter of Krishna’s lotus feet?

This verse describes Krishna as the remover of distress for the surrendered and shows that approaching His lotus feet in fear and humility brings divine protection.

Why is Krishna asked to place His lotus hand on the devotee’s head in Bhagavatam 10.59?

Because Krishna’s touch is portrayed as purifying—His lotus hand on the head symbolizes protection, blessing, and the removal of all sinful reactions (akhila-kalmaṣa-apaha).

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Practice śaraṇāgati—when anxious or threatened, consciously take refuge in Krishna through prayer and remembrance, trusting His protection and seeking purification of one’s actions and intentions.