Shloka 12

Akrūra in Hastināpura: Kuntī’s Lament and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Moral Instruction

Devanagari script

नान्यत्तव पदाम्भोजात् पश्यामि शरणं नृणाम् । बिभ्यतां मृत्युसंसारादीश्वरस्यापवर्गिकात् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

nānyat tava padāmbhojāt paśyāmi śaraṇaṁ nṛṇām bibhyatāṁ mṛtyu-saṁsārād īsvarasyāpavargikāt

Translation

மரணமும் பிறப்பு-மறுபிறப்பும் அஞ்சுவோர்க்கு, உன் விடுதலை அளிக்கும் தாமரைப் பாதங்களைத் தவிர வேறு சரணம் எனக்குத் தெரியாது; நீயே பரமேஸ்வரன்.

Synonyms

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अन्यत्: another (anything else)
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘शरणम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• पदाम्भोजात्: from (your) lotus-feet
• पदाम्भोजात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद + अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पदस्य अम्भोजम् = lotus of the foot)

• पश्यामि: I see
• पश्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• बिभ्यताम्: let (them) fear
• बिभ्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भी (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आज्ञार्थे/विधिलिङ्गार्थे ‘let them fear’

• मृत्युसंसारात्: from death and worldly existence
• मृत्युसंसारात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु + संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (मृत्युः च संसारः च)

• ईश्वरस्य: of the Lord
• ईश्वरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अपवर्गिकात्: from the liberating (source of emancipation)
• अपवर्गिकात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपवर्गिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; विशेषण (to implied ‘पदाम्भोजात्’/or ‘ईश्वरात्’ sense: from the liberating one)

Characters & Entities

• Akrura
• Krishna
• Balarama

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say is the ultimate shelter from fear of death and samsara?

This verse states that there is no shelter equal to the Lord’s lotus feet; they alone free one from fear of death and the cycle of material existence.

Why did Akrura say that only Krishna’s lotus feet are the refuge for human beings?

As Akrura approached Krishna and Balarama on his mission to Mathura, he offered prayers recognizing Krishna as the Supreme Lord whose feet grant apavarga (liberation), unlike temporary worldly supports.

Practical application of taking shelter of Krishna’s lotus feet in modern life?

Cultivate daily bhakti—hearing and chanting Krishna’s names, prayerful surrender, and living with dependence on the Lord—so anxiety about uncertainty, loss, and death is gradually replaced by spiritual confidence.