Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 7

Bali Liberated, Prahlāda Blessed, and Vāmana Accepted as Universal Protector

Devanagari script

यत्पादपद्ममकरन्दनिषेवणेन ब्रह्मादय: शरणदाश्नुवते विभूती: । कस्माद् वयं कुसृतय: खलयोनयस्ते दाक्षिण्यद‍ृष्टिपदवीं भवत: प्रणीता: ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

yat-pāda-padma-makaranda-niṣevaṇena brahmādayaḥ śaraṇadāśnuvate vibhūtīḥ kasmād vayaṁ kusṛtayaḥ khala-yonayas te dākṣiṇya-dṛṣṭi-padavīṁ bhavataḥ praṇītāḥ

Translation

โอ้ที่พึ่งสูงสุดของสรรพชีวิต บุคคลยิ่งใหญ่อย่างพระพรหมบรรลุความสมบูรณ์เพียงได้ลิ้มรสน้ำผึ้งแห่งการปรนนิบัติพระบาทบัวของพระองค์ แล้วพวกเราผู้ชั่วช้า คดโกง เกิดในตระกูลอสูรอันริษยา จะได้รับสายพระเนตรเมตตาของพระองค์ได้อย่างไร? ก็เพราะพระกรุณาอันไร้เหตุของพระองค์เท่านั้น

Synonyms

• यत्: whose/that
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative particle)

• पाद-पद्म-मकरन्द-निषेवणेन: by the service of the nectar of (His) lotus feet
• पाद-पद्म-मकरन्द-निषेवणेन: Instrument (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + मकरन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + निषेवण (प्रातिपदिक; from √सेव् with नि-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (पादस्य पद्मस्य मकरन्दस्य निषेवणम्)

• ब्रह्म-आदयः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्म-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मा आदिः येषां ते)

• शरणदा: givers of refuge
• शरणदा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √दा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (ब्रह्मादयः इति विशेषणम्); समासः उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (शरणं ददाति)

• अश्नुवते: attain
• अश्नुवते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अश्/√अश्नु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• विभूतीः: opulences/powers
• विभूतीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कस्मात्: why/from what reason
• कस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: हेतौ प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (ablatival interrogative: 'from what cause/why')

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• कुसृतयः: evil-doers/ill-conducted ones
• कुसृतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• खल-योनयः: of wicked birth/origin
• खल-योनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (खलानां योनयः)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (enclitic)

• दाक्षिण्य-दृष्टि-पदवीम्: the path/way of merciful glance
• दाक्षिण्य-दृष्टि-पदवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाक्षिण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + पदवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (दाक्षिण्ययुक्ता दृष्टिः तस्याः पदवी)

• भवतः: of you (honorific)
• भवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; आदरार्थक-सर्वनाम

• प्रणीताḥ: led/brought (to)
• प्रणीताḥ: Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणीता (कृदन्त, √नी with प्र-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कृदन्तः क्त (PPP)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Indra
• Vāmana
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet?

This verse teaches that even exalted beings like Brahmā attain true shelter and divine opulences by serving the nectar of the Lord’s lotus feet—showing that bhakti is the supreme refuge.

Why do the demigods speak with humility to Lord Vāmana in Canto 8?

In the Vāmana narrative, the demigods feel unworthy due to past faults and dependence on power, so they praise Viṣṇu’s compassion—acknowledging that His mercy, not their status, grants protection.

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

Adopt humility and steady devotional practice—regular remembrance, prayer, and service—trusting that sincere bhakti invites divine guidance beyond one’s perceived qualifications.