Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 24

Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

पुरा स्वयम्भूरपि संयमाम्भ- स्युदीर्णवातोर्मिरवै: कराले । एकोऽरविन्दात् पतितस्ततार तस्माद् भयाद्येन स नोऽस्तु पार: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

purā svayambhūr api saṁyamāmbhasy udīrṇa-vātormi-ravaiḥ karāle eko ’ravindāt patitas tatāra tasmād bhayād yena sa no ’stu pāraḥ

Translation

At the dawn of creation, a furious wind raised dreadful waves in the waters of devastation, roaring terribly; even Svayambhū Brahmā nearly fell from his lotus seat, yet by the Lord’s help he was saved. May that same Lord carry us across this fearful danger.

Synonyms

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (time adverb: formerly)

• svayambhūḥ: Svayambhū (Brahmā)
• svayambhūḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svayambhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Brahmā)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि (even/also)

• saṁyama-ambhasi: in the waters of dissolution
• saṁyama-ambhasi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṁyama (प्रातिपदिक) + ambhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (waters of restraint/annihilation)

• udīrṇa-vāta-ūrmi-ravaiḥ: with the roaring of wind-driven waves
• udīrṇa-vāta-ūrmi-ravaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; √īr धातु, क्त) + vāta (प्रातिपदिक) + ūrmi (प्रातिपदिक) + rava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (with the roars of waves driven by strong winds)

• karāle: terrible
• karāle: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying saṁyama-ambhasi)

• ekaḥ: alone
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of svayambhūḥ)

• aravindāt: from the lotus
• aravindāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aravinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• patitaḥ: having fallen
• patitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (प्रातिपदिक; √pat धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (fallen)

• tatāra: crossed over
• tatāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tṝ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• tasmāt: from that
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• bhayāt: from fear
• bhayāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• yena: by whom
• yena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• naḥ: of us/our
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचन; here—षष्ठी ‘our’

• astu: may (he) be
• astu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• pāraḥ: the far shore; deliverance
• pāraḥ: Pradhāna (प्रधान/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Characters & Entities

• Svayambhū (Brahmā)
• Lord Viṣṇu (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about crossing the ocean of material existence?

This verse teaches that the Supreme Lord is the “far shore” (pāra)—the one who enables even Brahmā to cross terrifying danger—so devotees pray to Him as their deliverer from fear and saṁsāra.

Why is Brahmā mentioned in this Bhagavatam verse?

Brahmā is cited as an example that even the greatest created being can face overwhelming fear, yet the Lord alone grants safe passage—highlighting the Lord’s supreme power to protect.

Practical application of surrender to God in modern life according to this shloka?

When life feels like a stormy ocean, this verse encourages taking refuge in the Supreme Lord through prayer and remembrance, trusting Him as the ultimate support beyond one’s own strength.