Shloka 27

Secondary Creation Begins: Brahmā’s Productions, the Guṇas, and the Emergence of Orders of Beings

Devanagari script

त्वमेक: किल लोकानां क्लिष्टानां क्लेशनाशन: । त्वमेक: क्लेशदस्तेषामनासन्नपदां तव ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

tvam ekaḥ kila lokānāṁ kliṣṭānāṁ kleśa-nāśanaḥ tvam ekaḥ kleśadas teṣām anāsanna-padāṁ tava

Translation

My Lord, You alone can end the affliction of the distressed; and You alone bring suffering upon those who do not take refuge at Your feet.

Synonyms

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ekaḥ: alone/one
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying tvam

• kila: indeed
• kila: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात); emphasis/indeed

• lokānām: of the worlds/people
• lokānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kliṣṭānām: of the afflicted
• kliṣṭānām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kliś (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/भूतकृदन्त) used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying lokānām

• kleśa-nāśanaḥ: destroyer of suffering
• kleśa-nāśanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kleśa (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); compound = 'destroyer of suffering'

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• ekaḥ: alone
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying tvam

• kleśadaḥ: giver of suffering
• kleśadaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kleśa (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); compound = 'giver of suffering' (to them)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• anāsanna-padām: of those who have not approached (your) feet
• anāsanna-padām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an-āsanna (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); compound = 'whose feet are not approached' i.e., those who have not taken refuge; qualifying (implied) prajāḥ/teṣām

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

Purport

The words kleśadas teṣām anāsanna-padāṁ tava indicate that the Lord has two concerns. The first is to give protection to persons who take shelter of His lotus feet, and the second is to give trouble to those who are always demoniac and who are inimical toward the Lord. Māyā’s function is to give afflictions to the nondevotees. Here Brahmā said, “You are the protector of the surrendered souls; therefore I surrender unto Your lotus feet. Please give me protection from these demons.”

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

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

This verse teaches that those who approach and take refuge at the Lord’s feet receive relief from suffering, while those who refuse that shelter remain bound to distress meant to correct and awaken them.

Why did Brahmā say that the Lord gives distress to some people?

In his prayer, Brahmā acknowledges the Lord as both protector and regulator: suffering comes as a karmic and divine correction for those who remain averse to devotion and do not seek shelter in Him.

Practical application of surrender (śaraṇāgati) from this shloka in modern life?

Cultivate daily reliance on God through prayer, chanting, and ethical living; interpret hardships as opportunities to deepen devotion and reorient life toward spiritual shelter rather than bitterness.