Shloka 48

Balarāma Humbles the Kurus and Rescues Sāmba

Devanagari script

नमस्ते सर्वभूतात्मन् सर्वशक्तिधराव्यय । विश्वकर्मन् नमस्तेऽस्तु त्वां वयं शरणं गता: ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

namas te sarva-bhūtātman sarva-śakti-dharāvyaya viśva-karman namas te ’stu tvāṁ vayaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ

Translation

向您顶礼，众生之灵我，执持一切神力而不朽者，宇宙工匠毗湿瓦羯摩！我们向您致敬，并归依于您。

Synonyms

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), interjection/particle of salutation (नमस्कारार्थक)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-bhūta-ātman: O Self of all beings
• sarva-bhūta-ātman: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन/8th), Singular; compound: ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa ‘of all beings’ + ātman (आत्मन्)

• sarva-śakti-dhara-avyaya: O imperishable bearer of all powers
• sarva-śakti-dhara-avyaya: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √dhṛ धृ + अ) + avyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन/8th), Singular; descriptive compound (कर्मधारय): ‘(you who are) bearer of all powers, imperishable’

• viśva-karman: O creator of the universe
• viśva-karman: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन/8th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘maker of the universe’

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), salutation particle

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• astu: let it be
• astu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śaraṇam: refuge
• śaraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• gatāḥ: have gone / have taken (refuge)
• gatāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; used predicatively with ‘vayam’

Purport

The Kauravas clearly realized that their lives and destinies were in the hands of the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about surrender (śaraṇāgati) to Krishna?

This verse exemplifies śaraṇāgati: the devotees (here, the Devas) openly declare that Kṛṣṇa is the Supersoul and all-powerful Lord and that they have taken exclusive refuge in Him for protection and guidance.

Why do the demigods offer obeisances to Krishna as ‘Viśvakarman’ (creator of the universe)?

In the narrative context, Kṛṣṇa is revealing His supreme position beyond all cosmic administrators; by calling Him Viśvakarman, the Devas acknowledge that all universal powers ultimately rest in Him.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

When facing fear or uncertainty, practice conscious refuge in the Divine—remembering God as the inner Self of all beings and the ultimate support—then act responsibly with prayerful dependence rather than anxiety.