Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 41

Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma

Devanagari script

पप्रच्छ सत्कृतं नन्द: कथं स्थ निरनुग्रहे । कंसे जीवति दाशार्ह सौनपाला इवावय: ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

papraccha sat-kṛtaṁ nandaḥ kathaṁ stha niranugrahe kaṁse jīvati dāśārha sauna-pālā ivāvayaḥ

Translation

南达国王（Nanda Maharaja）问阿克鲁拉：达沙哈（Dasarha）的后裔啊，那个残忍的坎萨（Kamsa）还活着，你们大家是如何维持生计的？你们就像屠夫看管下的绵羊一样。

Synonyms

• पप्रच्छ: asked
• पप्रच्छ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: प्र-; धातु: प्रच्छ् (to ask)

• सत्कृतम्: the honoured (one)
• सत्कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् + कृत (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: सत्- (well) + कृत ‘honoured’; कर्मविशेषण (qualifying the person addressed)

• नन्दः: Nanda
• नन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय (interrogative adverb: how)

• स्थ: are (you all)
• स्थ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; रूप: स्थ (you are)

• निरनुग्रहे: when there is no favor/support
• निरनुग्रहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर् + अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: निर्- (without) + अनुग्रह ‘favor’; अधिकरण (in the absence of favor)

• कंसे: under Kaṁsa (in Kaṁsa’s rule)
• कंसे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• जीवति: lives/survives
• जीवति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दाशार्ह: O Dāśārha (descendant of Daśārha)
• दाशार्ह: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाशार्ह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative/Nominative used as address), एकवचन; संबोधन

• सौनपालाः: dog-keepers
• सौनपालाः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौन + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: सौनानां पालाः ‘keepers of dogs’

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक अव्यय (particle of comparison: like/as)

• अवयः: we
• अवयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘we’ in sense (rare/poetic plural)

Characters & Entities

• Nanda Mahārāja
• Kaṁsa
• Dāśārha (Yādava lineage; addressed to Akrūra)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about living under an oppressive ruler like Kaṁsa?

This verse portrays the insecurity felt by the righteous when a cruel, unmerciful ruler remains in power—life feels as vulnerable as “sheep with a butcher,” highlighting the need for divine protection and dharmic relief.

Why did Nanda Mahārāja ask this question to Akrūra (addressed as Dāśārha)?

Akrūra had come from Mathurā, where Kaṁsa ruled. Nanda, after receiving him respectfully, naturally asked about the welfare of the Yādavas living under Kaṁsa’s hostile regime.

Practical application: what can we learn from Nanda’s concern in modern life?

Nanda’s words teach empathy and responsible leadership—true devotees and guardians worry about others’ safety under injustice, while remembering that real protection ultimately rests with the Lord.