Shloka 30

Kālayavana’s Rise, Dvārakā’s Founding, and Muchukunda’s Awakening (Śaraṇāgati & Brahman-Stuti)

Devanagari script

संसारपतितस्यैको जन्तोस् त्वं शरणं परम् स प्रसीद प्रपन्नार्तिहन्तर् हर ममाशुभम्

Transliteration

saṃsārapatitasyaiko jantos tvaṃ śaraṇaṃ param sa prasīda prapannārtihantar hara mamāśubham

Translation

For a creature fallen into the whirl of saṃsāra, you alone are the highest refuge. Be gracious, O Hari, remover of the anguish of those who surrender; take away my evil and inauspiciousness.

Word by Word

• संसारपतितस्य: of (one) fallen into worldly existence
• संसारपतितस्य: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसार + पतित (कृदन्त; √पत्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘संसारे पतितः’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘fallen into saṃsāra’

• एकः: the only
• एकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• जन्तोः: of the creature/being
• जन्तोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सः: therefore/so (he)
• सः: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे/अन्वय-चिह्न

• प्रसीद: be gracious
• प्रसीद: Kriya (Request/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रपन्नार्तिहन्तः: O destroyer of the distress of the surrendered
• प्रपन्नार्तिहन्तः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपन्न + आर्ति + हन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √हन्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘प्रपन्नानाम् आर्तिं हन्ति’), पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• हर: remove/take away
• हर: Kriya (Request/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अशुभम्: inauspiciousness/evil
• अशुभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

A devotee offering a prayer of śaraṇāgati (surrender), as narrated by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He is approached as the supreme refuge who removes the suffering of surrendered souls and grants liberation from saṃsāra.

Leela: Moksha-dana

Dharma Restored: Upholding śaraṇāgati (refuge) and grace as the path for beings entangled in saṃsāra.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For the jīva fallen into saṃsāra, the Lord alone is the supreme refuge; by śaraṇāgati he removes inauspiciousness and sorrow.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Practice daily surrender—confession, prayer for grace, and steady remembrance—while living ethically and compassionately.

Vishishtadvaita: Prapatti/śaraṇāgati and the Lord’s saving grace align with Viśiṣṭādvaita: real dependence (śeṣatva) of the jīva upon the personal Brahman.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Vyuha Form: Vasudeva

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of śaraṇāgati (surrender) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Vishnu as the only supreme refuge for beings trapped in saṃsāra, portraying surrender as the decisive spiritual act that draws divine grace and protection.

How does Sage Parāśara explain liberation from saṃsāra in this context?

Through a devotional voice within the narration, Parāśara highlights that bondage is ended not merely by effort but by turning to Vishnu as the singular refuge who removes the distress of the surrendered.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is presented as the supreme, compassionate sovereign—personally responsive to devotees—whose grace eradicates aśubha (sin/inauspiciousness) and relieves the suffering of those who take refuge in Him.