Shloka 7

Ambikā-vana Śiva-pūjā; Nanda Saved from the Serpent; Śaṅkhacūḍa Slain

Devanagari script

तस्य चाक्रन्दितं श्रुत्वा गोपाला: सहसोत्थिता: । ग्रस्तं च द‍ृष्ट्वा विभ्रान्ता: सर्पं विव्यधुरुल्मुकै: ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

tasya cākranditaṁ śrutvā gopālāḥ sahasotthitāḥ grastaṁ ca dṛṣṭvā vibhrāntāḥ sarpaṁ vivyadhur ulmukaiḥ

Translation

ナンダの叫びを聞くと、牛飼いたちはすぐに跳ね起きた。呑み込まれているのを見て取り乱し、燃えさかる松明で蛇を打った。

Synonyms

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आक्रन्दितम्: the cry
• आक्रन्दितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-√क्रन्द् (धातु) + आक्रन्दित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; ‘crying out’ (as a noun: the cry)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• गोपालाः: cowherd men
• गोपालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• उत्थिताः: having risen
• उत्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्-√स्था (धातु) + उत्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त

• ग्रस्तम्: (him) seized
• ग्रस्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ग्रस् (धातु) + ग्रस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; (नन्दम्) विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• विभ्रान्ताः: bewildered
• विभ्रान्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√भ्रम् (धातु) + विभ्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त

• सर्पम्: the snake
• सर्पम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विव्यधुः: pierced, struck
• विव्यधुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• उल्मुकैः: with firebrands
• उल्मुकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उल्मुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Gopālas (cowherd men)
• Nanda Mahārāja
• Serpent (snake)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about devotees responding to danger?

This verse shows the Vraja cowherds immediately rising together and acting to protect their loved one, illustrating swift, collective, duty-filled response when harm threatens a devotee community.

Why did the gopas strike the serpent with firebrands?

In panic and urgency upon seeing Nanda seized, they used the quickest available means—burning torches/firebrands—to drive the serpent away and save him.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

When crisis arises, respond promptly, support your community, and take practical steps to protect others—while keeping faith that the Lord ultimately safeguards His devotees.