Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 17

The Appearance of Vāmanadeva and His Arrival at Bali’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

तस्मा इत्युपनीताय यक्षराट् पात्रिकामदात् । भिक्षां भगवती साक्षादुमादादम्बिका सती ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

tasmā ity upanītāya yakṣa-rāṭ pātrikām adāt bhikṣāṁ bhagavatī sākṣād umādād ambikā satī

Translation

When Vāmanadeva had thus been given the sacred thread, Kuvera, King of the Yakṣas, gave Him a pot for begging alms, and mother Bhagavatī, the wife of Lord Śiva and most chaste mother of the entire universe, gave Him His first alms.

Synonyms

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/चतुर्थी), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निगमन-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उपनीताय: to the initiated (one)
• उपनीताय: विशेषण (adjectival to तस्मै)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-नी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (Past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन (Singular)

• यक्षराट्: the king of the Yakṣas (Kubera)
• यक्षराट्: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + राज्/राट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: यक्षाणां राट् (king)

• पात्रिकाम्: a begging bowl/pouch
• पात्रिकाम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्रिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अदात्: gave
• अदात्: क्रिया (Verb/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भगवती: the divine goddess
• भगवती: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• साक्षात्: directly/in person
• साक्षात्: क्रिया-विशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• उमा: Umā
• उमा: कर्ता (Karta/subject; apposition to भगवती)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अदात्: gave
• अदात्: क्रिया (Verb/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• अम्बिका: Ambikā (Mother goddess)
• अम्बिका: कर्ता (Karta/subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सती: Satī
• सती: कर्ता (Karta/subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Yakṣarāṭ (Kubera)
• Umā
• Ambikā
• Satī

FAQs

Who is the Yakṣarāṭ mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 8.18.17?

Yakṣarāṭ refers to Kubera, the king of the Yakṣas, who offers a begging bowl as part of honoring the divine visitor.

Why does Umā (Ambikā Satī) accept the alms in this verse?

The verse highlights that the offering of alms is sanctified when received by divine authority; Umā personally accepts it, emphasizing sacred participation in the act of charity.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 8.18.17 for modern life?

Offerings and charity become spiritually meaningful when done with reverence, proper reception of guests, and awareness that service to the divine is present within sacred acts.