Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 28

Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance

Devanagari script

सदस्या ऊचु: उत्पत्त्यध्वन्यशरण उरुक्लेशदुर्गेऽन्तकोग्र व्यालान्विष्टे विषयमृगतृष्यात्मगेहोरुभार: । द्वन्द्वश्वभ्रे खलमृगभये शोकदावेऽज्ञसार्थ: पादौकस्ते शरणद कदा याति कामोपसृष्ट: ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

sadasyā ūcuḥ utpatty-adhvany aśaraṇa uru-kleśa-durge ’ntakogra- vyālānviṣṭe viṣaya-mṛga-tṛṣy ātma-gehoru-bhāraḥ dvandva-śvabhre khala-mṛga-bhaye śoka-dāve ’jña-sārthaḥ pādaukas te śaraṇada kadā yāti kāmopasṛṣṭaḥ

Translation

会众说道：“赐予庇护者啊，在生死之途上，困厄无依者唯有你是归依。于这充满剧苦的轮回堡垒中，时间如凶蛇常伺机噬人。感官对象的海市蜃楼诱惑迷乱，虚妄‘家我’之重担压迫；乐苦之坑、恶兽之惧、哀伤之林火恒常燃烧。被欲望侵袭的愚众，何时才会投靠你莲花足下？”

Synonyms

• sadasyāḥ: the assembly members
• sadasyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (वैदिक/पुराण-प्रयोगे दीर्घान्त); अर्थतः ‘सभा-सदस्याः’

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• utpatti-adhvani: on the path of birth (saṃsāra)
• utpatti-adhvani: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utpatti (प्रातिपदिक) + adhvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘उत्पत्तेः अध्वनि’ = जन्ममार्गे/संसारमार्गे

• aśaraṇaḥ: without refuge
• aśaraṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ् (a-)

• uru-kleśa-durge: in the fortress of great suffering
• uru-kleśa-durge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uru (प्रातिपदिक) + kleśa (प्रातिपदिक) + durga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘उरु-क्लेशस्य दुर्गे’ = महान् क्लेशः एव दुर्गम्

• antaka-ugra-vyāla-anviṣṭe: where deadly fierce serpents pursue
• antaka-ugra-vyāla-anviṣṭe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक) + ugra (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāla (प्रातिपदिक) + anviṣṭa (कृदन्त, anu+√iṣ/√viṣ?; ‘अन्विष्ट’ = sought/attacked)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः— ‘अन्तक-उग्र-व्यालैः अन्विष्टे’ (मृत्युरूप-भयानक-सर्पैः अनुगते)

• viṣaya-mṛga-tṛṣi: in the thirst for sense-objects (like a mirage/deer-chase)
• viṣaya-mṛga-tṛṣi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + tṛṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘विषयाः मृगाः, तेषां तृषि’ = विषय-मृगतृष्णायाम्

• ātma-geha-uru-bhāraḥ: bearing the heavy burden of the body as ‘self-home’
• ātma-geha-uru-bhāraḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + geha (प्रातिपदिक) + uru (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘आत्म-गेह’ (देह/गृह) तस्मिन् ‘उरु-भार’ (महाभारः) यस्य

• dvandva-śvabhre: in the pit of dualities
• dvandva-śvabhre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvandva (प्रातिपदिक) + śvabhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘द्वन्द्व’ (सुख-दुःखादि) रूपे श्वभ्रे (कूपे)

• khala-mṛga-bhaye: in fear of wicked beasts (evil men)
• khala-mṛga-bhaye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khala (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘खल-मृगाणां भय’

• śoka-dāve: in the forest-fire of grief
• śoka-dāve: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + dāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शोकस्य दावः’ = शोकाग्नौ

• ajña-sārthaḥ: a caravan of the ignorant (helpless group)
• ajña-sārthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajña (प्रातिपदिक) + sārtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अज्ञानां सार्थः’ = अज्ञ-जनसमूहः

• pāda-okas: the shelter of (your) feet
• pāda-okas: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + okas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘पादयोः ओकः’ = चरणालयम् (चरण-आश्रयः)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘ते’ = तव

• śaraṇa-da: O giver of refuge
• śaraṇa-da: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शरणं ददाति’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रचलित-नाम, रूपतः तत्पुरुष

• kadā: when?
• kadā: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb of time)

• yāti: goes, reaches
• yāti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• kāma-upasṛṣṭaḥ: afflicted by desire
• kāma-upasṛṣṭaḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + upasṛṣṭa (कृदन्त, upa+√sṛj धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कामेन उपसृष्टः’ = काम-आक्रान्तः

Purport

Persons who are not in Kṛṣṇa consciousness are living a very precarious life, as described in this verse, but all these circumstantial conditions are due to forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant to give relief to all these bewildered and distressed persons; therefore it is the greatest relief work for all human society, and the workers thereof are the greatest well-wishers, for they follow in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, who is the greatest friend to all living entities.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Śiva
• Death (Antaka)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about samsara and the fear of death?

This verse portrays samsara as a perilous journey where the soul is hunted by death and scorched by lamentation; the remedy is taking shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet.

Why do the assembly members pray for refuge at the Lord’s lotus feet in Canto 4 Chapter 7?

Seeing the devastation and confusion surrounding Daksha’s sacrifice, they acknowledge the living being’s helplessness in material life and beg for the only true protection—devotional shelter.

How can I apply this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

Recognize how lust, anxiety, and dualities drive suffering, and respond by cultivating bhakti—regular prayer, chanting, and choosing actions that deepen dependence on the Lord rather than sense pleasure.