Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 44

Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

अथो ईश जहि त्वाष्ट्रं ग्रसन्तं भुवनत्रयम् । ग्रस्तानि येन न: कृष्ण तेजांस्यस्त्रायुधानि च ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

atho īśa jahi tvāṣṭraṁ grasantaṁ bhuvana-trayam grastāni yena naḥ kṛṣṇa tejāṁsy astrāyudhāni ca

Translation

پس اے ربّ، اے اعلیٰ حاکم، اے شری کرشن! تواشٹا کے بیٹے ورتراسور کو ہلاک فرما، جو تینوں جہان نگل رہا ہے اور جس نے ہمارے ہتھیار، جنگی سامان اور ہماری قوت و تاثیر تک نگل لی ہے۔

Synonyms

• atho: now then
• atho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha + u (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), discourse particle (अथ + उ) = 'now then/indeed'

• īśa: O Lord
• īśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• jahi: slay
• jahi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; irregular imperative of √han

• tvāṣṭram: the (weapon/demon) of Tvaṣṭṛ
• tvāṣṭram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvāṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• grasantam: devouring
• grasantam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gras (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (कृत्: शतृ), Accusative (2nd), Singular, Neuter agreeing with tvāṣṭram

• bhuvana-trayam: the three worlds
• bhuvana-trayam: Karma (कर्म; object of 'devouring')
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvana (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; dvigu = 'three worlds'

• grastāni: have been swallowed
• grastāni: Karta (कर्ता; subject of implied 'are')
• Type: Verb
• Root: gras (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्: क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st), Plural

• yena: by which
• yena: Karana (करण/Instrument; 'by which')
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular, Neuter/Masculine; relative pronoun

• naḥ: our
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; enclitic

• kṛṣṇa: O Kṛṣṇa
• kṛṣṇa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• tejāṁsi: energies/splendors
• tejāṁsi: Karta (कर्ता; subject of implied 'are swallowed')
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• astra-āyudhāni: missiles and weapons
• astra-āyudhāni: Karta (कर्ता; coordinated subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Plural; dvandva = 'missiles and weapons'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

Purport

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.15-16):

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Vṛtrāsura
• Tvaṣṭā
• Kṛṣṇa (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

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

This verse shows Indra and the demigods turning to the Supreme Lord as the ultimate protector when their own strength and weapons fail.

Why did Indra pray to Lord Vishnu to kill Vritrasura?

Because Vṛtrāsura, the son of Tvaṣṭā, was overwhelming the three worlds and had neutralized the demigods’ power and weaponry, leaving them dependent on divine intervention.

How can this Bhagavatam verse be applied in modern life?

When personal resources and strategies are exhausted, it teaches sincere surrender—seeking higher guidance, humility, and steadiness rather than pride in one’s own power.