Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 66

Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction

Devanagari script

अप्यनाथं वने ब्रह्मन्मा स्मादन्त्यर्भकं वृका: । श्रान्तं शयानं क्षुधितं परिम्‍लानमुखाम्बुजम् ॥ ६६ ॥

Transliteration

apy anāthaṁ vane brahman mā smādanty arbhakaṁ vṛkāḥ śrāntaṁ śayānaṁ kṣudhitaṁ parimlāna-mukhāmbujam

Translation

婆罗门啊，我儿子的面容如莲花一般。我忧念他的危急处境：他在林中无依无护，或许饥饿疲惫，倒卧在某处；愿群狼不要袭来吞噬这莲颜已憔悴的孩子。

Synonyms

• अपि: even / also
• अपि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्भावनार्थक/अपेक्षार्थक निपात (even/also)

• अनाथम्: helpless
• अनाथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (without protector)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O brahmin
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक (prohibitive particle)

• स्म: indeed (with prohibition)
• स्म: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्म-निपात (emphatic/with prohibitive)

• अदन्ति: may eat / eat
• अदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अर्भकम्: the little boy
• अर्भकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वृकाः: wolves
• वृकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• श्रान्तम्: weary
• श्रान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शयानम्: lying down
• शयानम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षुधितम्: hungry
• क्षुधितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षुध् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परिम्लानमुखाम्बुजम्: whose lotus-like face is withered
• परिम्लानमुखाम्बुजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-म्लान (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परिम्लानं मुखम् अम्बुजमिव यस्य/मुखाम्बुजम्)

Characters & Entities

• Uttānapāda
• Dhruva
• Brāhmaṇa (addressed)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about a child devotee facing danger alone in the forest?

This verse shows the father’s fear and compassion—Dhruva is described as helpless, hungry, and exhausted in the forest—highlighting the gravity of Dhruva’s renunciation and the human concern for a devotee’s safety.

Why did King Uttānapāda say this after Dhruva left for the forest?

After Dhruva departed, Uttānapāda was overwhelmed with remorse and anxiety, imagining his young son alone among wild animals; he voices this worry while addressing a brāhmaṇa, lamenting Dhruva’s vulnerable condition.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

It reminds us that intense spiritual resolve can alarm loved ones; balancing determination with compassion, and offering practical protection and support to sincere seekers, is a dharmic response.