Shloka 3

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वानवधीत् तत्र वध्यान् वै विष्णुशक्तिधृक् । नागाल्लब्धवर: सर्पादभयं स्मरतामिदम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

gandharvān avadhīt tatra vadhyān vai viṣṇu-śakti-dhṛk nāgāl labdha-varaḥ sarpād abhayaṁ smaratām idam

Translation

There in Rasātala, Purukutsa, empowered by Lord Viṣṇu, slew the Gandharvas who were fit to be slain. From the serpents he received this boon: whoever remembers this account—how Narmadā brought him to the lower region—will be protected from the attack of snakes.

Synonyms

• गन्धर्वान्: Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• अवधीत्: he slew
• अवधीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+हन् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• वध्यान्: fit to be slain
• वध्यान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘गन्धर्वान्’)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• विष्णु: Viṣṇu
• विष्णु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद (compound member)

• शक्ति: power
• शक्ति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासमध्यपद (compound member)

• धृक्: bearer (of)
• धृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृ (धातु; धृक्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘धारयति इति’ (one who bears)

• नागात्: from the serpent (king)
• नागात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• लब्ध: having obtained
• लब्ध: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• वरः: a boon
• वरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘boon’

• सर्पात्: from a serpent
• सर्पात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• अभयम्: fearlessness/safety
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• स्मरताम्: of those who remember
• स्मरताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle) in षष्ठी-बहुवचन (Genitive plural) used as ‘for those who remember’; परस्मैपद-परक (active)

• इदम्: this (account/name)
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; निर्देश (this)

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• Viṣṇu
• Nāgas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about becoming fearless through divine protection?

This verse teaches that one endowed with Lord Viṣṇu’s potency acts under divine protection, and by the Nāgas’ boon he becomes fearless of serpents—illustrating fearlessness that arises through higher shelter and divine sanction.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention the Nāgas’ boon and fearlessness from serpents here?

He highlights a specific result of the episode: the protagonist receives a boon from the Nāgas that grants protection from snake-fear, underscoring how providence and blessings accompany righteous, divinely empowered action.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Cultivate fearlessness by taking shelter of the Divine through prayer, remembrance, and dharmic conduct—then face dangers with steadiness, trusting that protection follows sincere spiritual alignment.