Srimad Bhagavatam 10.64.4 — Dashama Skandha, Canto 10, Chapter 64, Verse 4

The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property

Devanagari script

चर्मजैस्तान्तवै: पाशैर्बद्ध्वा पतितमर्भका: । नाशक्नुरन् समुद्धर्तुं कृष्णायाचख्युरुत्सुका: ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

carma-jais tāntavaiḥ pāśair baddhvā patitam arbhakāḥ nāśaknuran samuddhartuṁ kṛṣṇāyācakhyur utsukāḥ

Translation

بچوں نے کنویں میں گرے ہوئے اس چھپکلی کو چمڑے کی پٹیوں اور بُنی ہوئی رسیوں سے باندھ کر کھینچا، مگر پھر بھی نہ نکال سکے۔ تب وہ جوش سے بھگوان شری کرشن کے پاس گئے اور سارا حال سنایا۔

Synonyms

• carma-jaiḥ: with leather-made
• carma-jaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: carma (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘born of leather/ made of hide’; masculine/neuter instrumental plural (तृतीया बहुवचन) agreeing with pāśaiḥ

• tāntavaiḥ: with corded/thread-made
• tāntavaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāntava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine instrumental plural (पुंलिङ्ग तृतीया बहुवचन) qualifying pāśaiḥ; ‘made of threads/cords’

• pāśaiḥ: with nooses/ropes
• pāśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine instrumental plural (पुंलिङ्ग तृतीया बहुवचन)

• baddhvā: having bound
• baddhvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bandh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा) from √bandh; indeclinable

• patitam: fallen
• patitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (प्रातिपदिक; from √pat)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), masculine accusative singular (पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन) qualifying (kṛkalāsam understood)

• arbhakāḥ: boys/children
• arbhakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arbhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine nominative plural (पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेधक अव्यय)

• aśaknuvan: they were unable
• aśaknuvan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada; 3rd person plural (प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन); with augment a-; ‘were not able’

• samuddhartum: to lift out/rescue
• samuddhartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ud + hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्) from √hṛ with sam-ud-; expresses purpose

• kṛṣṇāya: to Krishna
• kṛṣṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine dative singular (पुंलिङ्ग चतुर्थी एकवचन)

• ācakhyuḥ: they told/informed
• ācakhyuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + cakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada; 3rd person plural (प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन) from √cakṣ ‘to tell/announce’ with ā-

• utsukāḥ: eager
• utsukāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: utsuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine nominative plural (पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन) qualifying arbhakāḥ

Purport

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that because in this chapter the Yadu boys, even Śrī Pradyumna, are described as quite young, this must be an early pastime.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• the boys (arbha-kāḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter of Krishna in danger?

This verse shows that when the boys could not rescue the fallen person by their own effort, they immediately approached Kṛṣṇa—illustrating the Bhagavata’s teaching to seek the Lord’s shelter when one’s strength is insufficient.

Why did the boys go to Krishna after trying to lift the fallen one?

They had already bound him with ropes but still could not raise him; recognizing their limitation, they eagerly informed Kṛṣṇa, trusting His ability to protect and resolve the situation.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

Make sincere effort, but when a problem exceeds your capacity, turn to prayer and divine dependence—seeking Kṛṣṇa’s guidance and protection rather than relying only on personal strength.