Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 49

Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage

Devanagari script

अस्मिन्नप्यन्तरे ब्रह्मन् भगवान्लोकभावन: । ब्रह्मेशाद्यैर्लोकपालैर्याचितो धर्मगुप्तये ॥ ४८ ॥ पराशरात् सत्यवत्यामंशांशकलया विभु: । अवतीर्णो महाभाग वेदं चक्रे चतुर्विधम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

asminn apy antare brahman bhagavān loka-bhāvanaḥ brahmeśādyair loka-pālair yācito dharma-guptaye

Translation

हे ब्राह्मण, वैवस्वत मन्वंतरात ब्रह्मा-शिव आदी लोकपालांनी धर्मरक्षणासाठी लोकभावन भगवानांना विनविले। हे भाग्यवान शौनक, तो सर्वसमर्थ प्रभू आपल्या अंशाच्या अंशकलेने सत्यवतीच्या गर्भात पराशरापासून अवतरला आणि कृष्णद्वैपायन व्यासरूपाने एक वेद चार भागांत विभागला।

Synonyms

• पराशरात्: from Parāśara
• पराशरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराशर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• सत्यवत्याम्: in Satyavatī
• सत्यवत्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• अंशांशकलया: by a fractional portion
• अंशांशकलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश + अंश + कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष/पुनरुक्ति: अंश-अंश-कलया = 'by a portion of a portion (partial expansion)'

• विभुः: the all-powerful Lord
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• अवतीर्णः: descended
• अवतीर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√तॄ (तॄ) → अवतीर्ण (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past active participle in sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थ: 'descended/incarnated'

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: महान् भागः यस्य सः (O greatly fortunate one)

• वेदम्: the Veda
• वेदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• चक्रे: made/arranged
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (कृ) (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• चतुर्विधम्: fourfold
• चतुर्विधम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: चतुर्विध (of four kinds)

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord)
• Brahmā
• Śiva (Īśa)
• Lokapālas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord protecting dharma?

This verse states that the Supreme Lord, the benefactor of all worlds, is petitioned by Brahmā, Śiva, and the lokapālas to safeguard dharma—showing that divine protection of righteousness is central to the Bhagavatam.

Why did Brahmā and Śiva request the Lord in this passage?

Because dharma required protection; as cosmic administrators, Brahmā, Śiva, and the lokapālas appeal to the Supreme Lord, who alone can fully restore and uphold righteousness.

Practical application of 'protecting dharma' in modern life?

Align daily choices with truthfulness, compassion, and self-discipline, and support spiritual study and practice—seeing dharma as something to be actively preserved in one’s conduct.