Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

भवस्तवाय कृतधीर्नाशक्नोदनुरागत: । औत्कण्ठ्याद्बाष्पकलया सम्परेतां सुतां स्मरन् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

bhava-stavāya kṛta-dhīr nāśaknod anurāgataḥ autkaṇṭhyād bāṣpa-kalayā samparetāṁ sutāṁ smaran

Translation

King Dakṣa wanted to offer prayers to Lord Śiva, but as he remembered the ill-fated death of his daughter Satī, his eyes filled with tears, and in bereavement his voice choked up and he could not say anything.

Synonyms

• भव-स्तवाय: for praising Śiva
• भव-स्तवाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव + स्तव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—भवस्य स्तवः (praise of Bhava=Śiva)

• कृत-धीः: having resolved (his mind)
• कृत-धीः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, कृदन्त) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘कृत’ + ‘धी’—कर्मधारयः: कृताः धियः यस्य/कृतधीः (one whose resolve/intellect is made/settled)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अशक्नोत्: was able
• अशक्नोत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अनुरागतः: being attached/affectionate
• अनुरागतः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Kartu-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (describing the subject)

• औत्कण्ठ्यात्: from longing, out of anxiety
• औत्कण्ठ्यात्: हेतु/अपादान (Hetu/Apādāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औत्कण्ठ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• बाष्प-कलया: with a tear-drop
• बाष्प-कलया: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाष्प + कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—बाष्पस्य कला (a drop/portion of tears)

• सम्परेताम्: departed, deceased
• सम्परेताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + परि + इ (धातु) → सम्परेत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘departed/dead’

• सुताम्: daughter
• सुताम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• स्मरन्: remembering
• स्मरन्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मरन् (शतृ-प्रत्यय, वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (concomitant action)

Characters & Entities

• Bhava (Lord Śiva)
• Lord Viṣṇu
• Satī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about devotion during grief?

This verse shows that even a great devotee like Lord Śiva may be overwhelmed by personal sorrow; yet he still turns his mind toward praying to Lord Viṣṇu, illustrating that bhakti continues even amid human-like emotion.

Why is Lord Śiva unable to fully focus while praying to Lord Viṣṇu?

Because he is intensely attached and sorrowful, remembering his departed daughter Satī, and his longing brings tears that disturb his concentration.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

When grief arises, one may not feel “perfectly focused,” but continuing prayer and remembrance of God—without self-condemnation—helps the heart gradually stabilize and heal.