Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 46

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

शिरो मत्पादयो: कृत्वा बाहुभ्यां च परस्परम् । प्रपन्नं पाहि मामीश भीतं मृत्युग्रहार्णवात् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

śiro mat-pādayoḥ kṛtvā bāhubhyāṁ ca parasparam prapannaṁ pāhi mām īśa bhītaṁ mṛtyu-grahārṇavāt

Translation

Posant sa tête aux pieds de la Divinité, puis se tenant devant le Seigneur les mains jointes, il doit prier : « Ô Īśa, protège-moi, moi qui me suis abandonné à Toi. Je crains cet océan de saṁsāra, comme si je me tenais dans la gueule de la mort. »

Synonyms

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• mat-pādayoḥ: at my two feet
• mat-pādayoḥ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mat-pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual

• kṛtvā: having placed/made
• kṛtvā: Purvakala-Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (Ktva/क्त्वा)

• bāhubhyām: with both arms
• bāhubhyām: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual

• ca: and
• ca: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• parasparam: mutually/together (clasping)
• parasparam: Kriya-Visheshana (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb

• prapannam: surrendered
• prapannam: Visheshana (Qualifier to Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-pad (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (Kta/क्त), Accusative, Singular, Masculine

• pāhi: protect
• pāhi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (Lot/लोट्), 2nd Person (Madhyama), Singular

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• īśa: O Lord
• īśa: Sambodhya (Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• bhītam: afraid
• bhītam: Visheshana (Qualifier to Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhī (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (Kta/क्त), Accusative, Singular, Masculine

• mṛtyu-graha-arṇavāt: from the ocean of the crocodile of death
• mṛtyu-graha-arṇavāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu-graha-arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 11.27.46 teach about surrender to Krishna?

It teaches that a devotee should physically and mentally take shelter of the Lord—bowing at His feet and clinging to Him in devotion—while praying for protection as a surrendered soul.

Why does Krishna describe death as a crocodile in an ocean?

The verse portrays saṁsāra as a vast ocean where death can seize anyone unexpectedly, like a crocodile; therefore the safest refuge is wholehearted surrender to the Lord.

How can I apply this verse in daily life when I feel anxious or afraid?

Turn fear into prayer: remember the Lord, offer a humble surrender (“I am Yours—please protect me”), and take shelter of devotional practice (especially sincere worship and remembrance) as your steady refuge.