Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 56

Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)

Devanagari script

यत्र निर्विष्टमरणं कृतान्तो नाभिमन्यते । विश्वं विध्वंसयन् वीर्यशौर्यविस्फूर्जितभ्रुवा ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

yatra nirviṣṭam araṇaṁ kṛtānto nābhimanyate viśvaṁ vidhvaṁsayan vīrya- śaurya-visphūrjita-bhruvā

Translation

A quien se ha refugiado por completo en Tus pies de loto, de modo que la muerte ya no lo domina, el Tiempo, personificado como Kṛtānta, no se le acerca. Y, sin embargo, ese mismo Tiempo, con un leve movimiento de Tus cejas, puede destruir el universo en un instante.

Synonyms

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• nirviṣṭam: entered into
• nirviṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-viś (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकर्मणि क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘entered/settled in’

• araṇam: refuge
• araṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); in context: ‘refuge/shelter’

• kṛtāntaḥ: Death (Yama)
• kṛtāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta-anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘he whose end is fixed’ → Death/Yama

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• abhimanyate: considers
• abhimanyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-man (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); ‘considers/thinks’

• viśvam: the universe
• viśvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidhvaṁsayan: destroying
• vidhvaṁsayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-dhvaṁs (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with implied agent (He)

• vīrya-śaurya-visphūrjita-bhruvā: with eyebrows quivering from valor and heroism
• vīrya-śaurya-visphūrjita-bhruvā: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक) + śaurya (प्रातिपदिक) + visphūrjita (स्फूर्ज् धातु + क्त) + bhrū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘with eyebrows made to quiver by valor and heroism’

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā (10.34) it is said that the Lord in the shape and form of death destroys all a person’s possessions. Mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham: “I am all-devouring death.” The Lord in the shape of death takes away everything that is created by the conditioned soul. Everything in this material world is subject to perish in due course of time. However, all the strength of time cannot hamper the activities of a devotee, for a devotee takes complete shelter under the lotus feet of the Lord. For this reason only is a devotee free from formidable time. All the activities of the karmīs and jñānīs, which have no touch of devotional service, are spoiled in due course of time. The material success of the karmīs is destined to be destroyed; similarly, the impersonal realization attained by the jñānīs is also destroyed in the course of time:

Characters & Entities

• Kṛtānta (Yama)
• The Supreme Lord (Viṣṇu/Śiva-as-devotee of Viṣṇu context)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about freedom from fear of death?

This verse teaches that in the presence of the Supreme Lord, even Death (Kṛtānta/Yama) does not dare to approach—devotional shelter in God removes existential fear.

Who is Kṛtānta in the Bhagavatam, and why is he mentioned here?

Kṛtānta refers to Yama, the ‘finisher’ who presides over death. The Pracetās mention him to emphasize the Lord’s supremacy: even the cosmic authority of death is powerless before Him.

How can I apply this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

Cultivate remembrance and devotion to the Lord—through prayer, mantra, and dharmic living—so fear and anxiety lessen as one relies on divine protection and higher purpose.