Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 16

Vasudeva and Devakī Glorify Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; The Recovery of Devakī’s Six Sons from Sutala

Devanagari script

यद‍ृच्छया नृतां प्राप्य सुकल्पामिह दुर्लभाम् । स्वार्थे प्रमत्तस्य वयो गतं त्वन्माययेश्वर ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

yadṛcchayā nṛtāṁ prāpya su-kalpām iha durlabhām svārthe pramattasya vayo gataṁ tvan-māyayeśvara

Translation

By good fortune a soul may obtain a healthy human life — an opportunity rarely achieved. But if he is nonetheless deluded about what is best for him, O Lord, Your illusory Māyā will cause him to waste his entire life.

Synonyms

• यदृच्छया: by chance
• यदृच्छया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदृच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by chance’ (instrumental of manner)

• नृताम्: of humans
• नृताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘of men/humans’

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+आप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund), ‘having obtained’

• सुकल्पाम्: excellent
• सुकल्पाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘well-formed/excellent’

• इह: here
• इह: Deśa (देश/Place)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here)

• दुर्लभाम्: rare to obtain
• दुर्लभाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘hard to obtain’ qualifying (तनुं/देहं implied)

• स्वार्थे: in one’s true interest
• स्वार्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य अर्थः)

• प्रमत्तस्य: of the heedless person
• प्रमत्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘of the careless/heedless’

• वयः: life-span/youth (time of life)
• वयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गतम्: has gone/has passed
• गतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative action/state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate with वयः

• त्वत्-मायया: by your illusion/power
• त्वत्-मायया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वत् (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘by your māyā’

• ईश्वर: O Lord
• ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the rarity of human birth?

This verse states that human life is difficult to obtain yet uniquely fit for spiritual attainment, so it should not be squandered in neglect.

What is meant by 'svārtha' (true self-interest) in this shloka?

Svārtha here means one’s real spiritual welfare—turning toward the Lord and self-realization—rather than temporary worldly goals.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Treat time—especially youth—as precious: reduce distractions, cultivate daily sādhana (hearing/chanting), and align life decisions with lasting spiritual benefit.