Shloka 8

Kuntī’s Prayers and the Neutralization of the Brahmāstra

Uttarā Protected; Yudhiṣṭhira’s Grief Begins

Devanagari script

गन्तुं कृतमतिर्ब्रह्मन् द्वारकां रथमास्थित: । उपलेभेऽभिधावन्तीमुत्तरां भयविह्वलाम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

gantuṁ kṛtamatir brahman dvārakāṁ ratham āsthitaḥ upalebhe ’bhidhāvantīm uttarāṁ bhaya-vihvalām

Translation

ദ്വാരകയിലേക്ക് പോകാനായി രഥത്തിൽ കയറിയ ഉടനെ, ഭയവിഹ്വലയായി തനിക്കരികിലേക്ക് ഓടിവരുന്ന ഉത്തരയെ അദ്ദേഹം കണ്ടു.

Synonyms

• gantum: to go
• gantum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), indeclinable verbal noun

• kṛta-matiḥ: having made up his mind
• kṛta-matiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: कृताः मतिः यस्य/कृतमति: = resolved-minded

• brahman: O brāhmaṇa (Śaunaka)
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• dvārakām: to Dvārakā
• dvārakām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; destination

• ratham: the chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āsthitaḥ: having mounted
• āsthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + √स्था (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त, used in sense of having mounted), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• upalebhe: he encountered/found
• upalebhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/लिट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• abhidhāvantīm: running towards (him)
• abhidhāvantīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + √धाव् (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies uttarām

• uttarām: Uttarā
• uttarām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• bhaya-vihvalām: overwhelmed with fear
• bhaya-vihvalām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: भयेन विह्वला

Purport

All the members of the family of the Pāṇḍavas were completely dependent on the protection of the Lord, and therefore the Lord protected all of them in all circumstances. The Lord protects everyone, but one who depends completely upon Him is especially looked after by the Lord. The father is more attentive to the little son who is exclusively dependent on the father.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Uttarā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter of Krishna in fear?

This verse shows Uttarā, overwhelmed by fear, running directly to Kṛṣṇa for refuge—illustrating that the Lord is the immediate shelter for the distressed devotee.

Why did Uttarā run to Krishna in Canto 1 Chapter 8?

In the narrative context, Uttarā is terrified by imminent danger (later revealed as the Brahmāstra threat) and seeks Kṛṣṇa’s protection as He is about to leave for Dvārakā.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

When anxiety or crisis arises, turn first to sincere prayer and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa, seeking guidance and protection rather than relying only on panic or external solutions.