Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 9

The Murder of Satrājit and the Recovery of the Syamantaka Jewel

Devanagari script

तदाकर्ण्येश्वरौ राजन्ननुसृत्य नृलोकताम् । अहो न: परमं कष्टमित्यस्राक्षौ विलेपतु: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

tad ākarṇyeśvarau rājann anusṛtya nṛ-lokatām aho naḥ paramaṁ kaṣṭam ity asrākṣau vilepatuḥ

Translation

When Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma heard this news, O King, They exclaimed, “Alas! This is the greatest tragedy for Us!” Thus imitating the ways of human society, They lamented, Their eyes brimming with tears.

Synonyms

• तत्: that (news)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तद्-वृत्तान्तम्’ इत्यर्थे

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + कर्ण्/कृ (धातु) → आकर्ण्य (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘श्रुत्वा’ अर्थे

• ईश्वरौ: the two lords
• ईश्वरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; (कृष्ण-बलरामौ)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• अनुसृत्य: having followed
• अनुसृत्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु + सृ (धातु) → अनुसृत्य (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘अनुगम्य’ अर्थे

• नृलोकताम्: human condition (as if human)
• नृलोकताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ + लोकता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नृणां लोकता (मनुष्यत्व/मानुष-भाव) इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• अहो: alas!/oh!
• अहो: Bhava-prakashaka (भावप्रकाशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय/शोकसूचक अव्यय (interjection)

• नः: of us/for us
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (genitive), बहुवचन; ‘अस्माकम्’

• परमम्: greatest, extreme
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कष्टम् इति विशेषण

• कष्टम्: misfortune, distress
• कष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक अव्यय (quotative)

• अस्राक्षौ: (their) two eyes shed tears / tears flowed
• अस्राक्षौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘अश्रूणि’ (Vedic/epic dual form)

• विलेपतुः: they wept/lamented
• विलेपतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + लिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, आत्मनेपद

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

Why did Krishna and Balarama lament in the Syamantaka jewel episode?

In this verse, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, though the Supreme Lords, express grief after hearing distressing news in the Syamantaka-jewel narrative, showing divine compassion and participating in human-like līlā within the mortal world.

Who is speaking Srimad Bhagavatam 10.57.9 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse to Parīkṣit Mahārāja while narrating the events of Canto 10, Chapter 57.

What is the practical lesson from Krishna showing sorrow in Bhagavatam 10.57.9?

The verse teaches that compassion and empathy are divine qualities; devotees can face suffering with a soft heart, remembering that even in distress one can remain aligned with dharma and devotion.