Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

भ्रात्रेयो भगवान् कृष्ण: शरण्यो भक्तवत्सल: । पैतृष्वस्रेयान् स्मरति रामश्चाम्बुरुहेक्षण: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

bhrātreyo bhagavān kṛṣṇaḥ śaraṇyo bhakta-vatsalaḥ paitṛ-ṣvasreyān smarati rāmaś cāmburuhekṣaṇaḥ

Translation

నా మేనల్లుడు భగవాన్ శ్రీకృష్ణుడు, భక్తవత్సలుడు శరణ్యుడు, ఇంకా తన పితృసోదరి కుమారులను స్మరిస్తున్నాడా? కమలనేత్రుడు రాముడూ వారిని గుర్తుచేసుకుంటున్నాడా?

Synonyms

• भ्रात्रेयः: nephew (sister’s son)
• भ्रात्रेयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रात्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-नाम (kinship term)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम (honorific noun)

• कृष्णः: Krishna
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• शरण्यः: protector; refuge-giver
• शरण्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘कृष्णः’)

• भक्तवत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्तवत्सलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भक्तानां वत्सलः)

• पैतृष्वस्रेयान्: (his) paternal cousins (aunt’s sons)
• पैतृष्वस्रेयान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पैतृ + स्वस्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (पितुः स्वस्रेयाः = paternal aunt’s sons)

• स्मरति: remembers
• स्मरति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• रामः: Rama (Balarama)
• रामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अम्बुरुहेक्षणः: lotus-eyed
• अम्बुरुहेक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्बुरुह + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (अम्बुरुहे इक्षणे यस्य सः)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being bhakta-vatsala?

This verse explicitly describes Krishna as bhakta-vatsala—one who is especially affectionate to His devotees—showing that He protects, remembers, and reciprocates with those connected to Him in devotion and relationship.

Why is Krishna called śaraṇya (giver of shelter) in this verse?

Krishna is praised as śaraṇya because He is the ultimate refuge for devotees and dependents; even amid royal affairs, He remains the protector who takes responsibility for those who seek Him.

How can devotees apply this teaching in modern life?

Cultivate steadiness in devotion while also honoring responsibilities—remembering and caring for family and dependents—without losing sight of Krishna as the true shelter and the source of loving reciprocity.