Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 38

Kūrma Supports Mandara; Hālahala Appears; Śiva Becomes Nīlakaṇṭha

Devanagari script

आसां प्राणपरीप्सूनां विधेयमभयं हि मे । एतावान्हि प्रभोरर्थो यद् दीनपरिपालनम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

āsāṁ prāṇa-parīpsūnāṁ vidheyam abhayaṁ hi me etāvān hi prabhor artho yad dīna-paripālanam

Translation

Menjadi tanggungjawabku untuk memberi perlindungan dan keselamatan kepada semua makhluk yang berjuang untuk terus hidup. Sesungguhnya, kewajipan tertinggi seorang tuan ialah memelihara dan melindungi para tanggungan yang menderita.

Synonyms

• आसाम्: of these (beings)
• आसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; असदादेश)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; 'of these (f.)'

• प्राणपरीप्सूनाम्: of those who seek to preserve life
• प्राणपरीप्सूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण + परि√ईप्स् (धातु; ईप्सु-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्राणान् परीप्सवः = desiring life); ईप्सु (desiderative agent noun)

• विधेयम्: (it) should be done
• विधेयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधेय (प्रातिपदिक; √धा with vi-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भाव्य/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ (to be done/fit to be done)

• अभयम्: fearlessness/safety
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), indeed

• मे: for me / by me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive) / चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; here: 'for me/by me' contextually dative/agentive

• एतावान्: this much/so great
• एतावान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; quantifier adjective

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), indeed

• प्रभोः: of the Lord/master
• प्रभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• अर्थः: purpose/meaning
• अर्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यत्: namely/that which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative particle) introducing clause; neuter acc./nom. sg used adverbially

• दीनपरिपालनम्: protection of the distressed
• दीनपरिपालनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीन + परि√पाल् (धातु; पालन-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दीनानां परिपालनम्)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Śiva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about protecting the distressed (dīna-paripālanam)?

This verse states that the Lord’s essential purpose is dīna-paripālanam—protecting and sustaining the distressed—and that granting fearlessness to those in danger is a divine obligation.

Why did Lord Shiva say this during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean)?

In Canto 8, Chapter 7, when a deadly poison threatens all beings, Lord Śiva expresses that it is his duty to give protection to those struggling for life, embodying the divine principle of safeguarding the helpless.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Make compassion practical: protect those in distress within your capacity—offer safety, support, and reassurance—seeing such service as aligned with the Lord’s own purpose.