Shloka 10

The Birth of Mahārāja Parīkṣit and Prophecies of His Greatness

Devanagari script

अस्त्रतेज: स्वगदया नीहारमिव गोपति: । विधमन्तं सन्निकर्षे पर्यैक्षत क इत्यसौ ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

astra-tejaḥ sva-gadayā nīhāram iva gopatiḥ vidhamantaṁ sannikarṣe paryaikṣata ka ity asau

Translation

The Lord, wielding His own mace, dispelled the blazing force of the brahmāstra, as the sun dries up a drop of dew. The child watched Him nearby, wondering, “Who is He?”

Synonyms

• अस्त्रतेजः: the weapon’s radiance
• अस्त्रतेजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक; अस्त्र + तेजस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अस्त्रस्य तेजः = weapon’s brilliance)

• स्वगदया: with his own mace
• स्वगदया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-गदा (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + गदा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वा गदा = his own mace)

• नीहारम्: mist, fog
• नीहारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• इव: like, as
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• गोपतिः: the Lord (protector of cows)
• गोपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो-पति (प्रातिपदिक; गो + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गवां पतिः = lord of cows)

• विधमन्तम्: dispelling (it)
• विधमन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ध्मा (धातु) → विधमन्त् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘विधमन्’ = blowing away, dispelling

• सन्निकर्षे: at close range, nearby
• सन्निकर्षे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निकर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• पर्यैक्षत: he observed, looked around
• पर्यैक्षत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परि + ऐक्षत (he looked around/observed)

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक-सर्वनाम

Characters & Entities

• Aśvatthāmā
• Parīkṣit (the unborn child)
• Lord Viṣṇu (as the protector within the womb)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about divine protection from powerful weapons like the Brahmāstra?

This verse shows that the Lord’s protective potency can neutralize even the blazing force of an astra; Aśvatthāmā witnesses his weapon’s power being dispelled at close range.

Why was Aśvatthāmā astonished in this verse?

Because he saw the irresistible radiance of his weapon being driven away, and he could not understand who had the power to counteract it—hinting at the Lord’s unseen intervention.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

For a devotee, remembrance of the Lord builds faith that no crisis is beyond divine shelter; one should take refuge in Bhagavān while acting responsibly within dharma.