Shloka 17

Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent

Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear

Devanagari script

भूमिर्द‍ृप्तनृपव्याजदैत्यानीकशतायुतै: । आक्रान्ता भूरिभारेण ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययौ ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

bhūmir dṛpta-nṛpa-vyāja- daityānīka-śatāyutaiḥ ākrāntā bhūri-bhāreṇa brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayau

Translation

రాజవేషధారులైన గర్విత దైత్యుల అనేక సేనావ్యూహాల భారముచేత భూమి అతిభారమై ఆవరించబడెను; అప్పుడు ఆమె శరణార్థముగా బ్రహ్మదేవుని ఆశ్రయించెను.

Synonyms

• bhūmiḥ: the Earth
• bhūmiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dṛpta-nṛpa-vyāja-daitya-anīka-śata-ayutaiḥ: by hundreds of thousands of armies of arrogant demons disguised as kings
• dṛpta-nṛpa-vyāja-daitya-anīka-śata-ayutaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛpta (√dṛp धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāja (प्रातिपदिक) + daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + anīka (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक) + ayuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-समूहवाचक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘दृप्त-नृप-व्याज-दैत्यानां अनीकानि’ + ‘शत-अयुत’ (hundreds of thousands) — करण (instrument)

• ākrāntā: overrun/oppressed
• ākrāntā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of bhūmiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + √kram (धातु) → ākrānta (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; विशेषण (of bhūmiḥ)

• bhūri-bhāreṇa: by a great burden
• bhūri-bhāreṇa: Karaṇa (करण/instrument/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūri (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘भूरिः भारः’ (great burden)

• brahmāṇam: to Brahmā
• brahmāṇam: Karma (कर्म/object of yayau)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (Brahmā)

• śaraṇam: for refuge
• śaraṇam: Gati/Karma (गति-लक्ष्य/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे द्वितीया (accusative of goal): ‘as refuge’

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Purport

When the world is overburdened by unnecessary military arrangements and when various demoniac kings are the executive heads of state, this burden causes the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.7) :

Characters & Entities

• Bhūmi (Earth Goddess)
• Brahmā

FAQs

Why does Bhūmi (Earth) go to Brahmā in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1?

Because Earth is oppressed by the heavy burden of demonic forces posing as kings, so she seeks higher divine help through Brahmā to restore dharma.

What does 'demons disguised as kings' mean in Bhagavatam 10.1.17?

It indicates rulers who hold royal power outwardly but act with daityic (demonic) qualities—pride, violence, and adharma—thereby becoming a burden to the world.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

It teaches discernment and accountability: when leadership becomes ego-driven and harmful, one should seek shelter in higher principles—dharma, prayer, and saintly guidance—rather than accepting oppression as normal.