Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

सर्पचौराग्निविद्युद्‌भ्य: क्षुत्तृड्‌व्याध्यादिभिर्नृप । पञ्चत्वमृच्छते जन्तुर्भुङ्क्त आरब्धकर्म तत् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

sarpa-caurāgni-vidyudbhyaḥ kṣut-tṛd-vyādhy-ādibhir nṛpa pañcatvam ṛcchate jantur bhuṅkta ārabdha-karma tat

Translation

О царь, когда обусловленная душа гибнет от змей, воров, огня, молнии, голода, болезни или чего-либо иного, она вкушает лишь плод своего прежнего, уже начавшего созревать, деяния.

Synonyms

• sarpa-cora-agni-vidyudbhyaḥ: from snakes, thieves, fire, and lightning
• sarpa-cora-agni-vidyudbhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + cora (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + vidyut (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (समाहार-द्वन्द्व, list); Masculine/Feminine mix treated as Masculine plural; Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kṣut-tṛḍ-vyādhi-ādibhiḥ: by hunger, thirst, disease, etc.
• kṣut-tṛḍ-vyādhi-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣut (प्रातिपदिक) + tṛḍ (प्रातिपदिक) + vyādhi (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (ādi-समास: ‘etc.’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

• pañcatvam: the state of the five elements (death)
• pañcatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• ṛcchate: attains/comes to
• ṛcchate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ṛcch (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• jantuḥ: a creature
• jantuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jantu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhuṅkte: experiences/enjoys
• bhuṅkte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• ārabdha-karma: the already-begun karma
• ārabdha-karma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārabdha (√rabh + kta, कृदन्त) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (‘begun/undertaken karma’); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); refers to ārabdha-karma

Purport

According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, King Parīkṣit obviously was not suffering the reaction of past karma. As a great devotee he was personally brought back home, back to Godhead, by the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about sudden death by accidents or disease?

This verse says death can come through many external causes—snakes, thieves, fire, lightning, hunger, thirst, disease—yet the living being is actually experiencing the results of already-begun (prārabdha) karma.

Why did Shukadeva Goswami say this to King Parikshit?

Parīkṣit was preparing for imminent death, and Śukadeva explains that the manner of death may vary, but it unfolds according to prārabdha karma—encouraging detachment and focus on devotion rather than fear of circumstances.

Practical application of prarabdha karma in modern life according to Bhagavatam?

Recognize that many uncontrollable events may be karmic reactions, so instead of anxiety over outcomes, prioritize steady bhakti, right conduct, and remembrance of the Lord while responsibly facing life’s risks.