Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 22

Bhṛgu Tests the Trimūrti; Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Visit Mahā-Viṣṇu and Recover the Brāhmaṇa’s Sons

Devanagari script

विप्रो गृहीत्वा मृतकं राजद्वार्युपधाय स: । इदं प्रोवाच विलपन्नातुरो दीनमानस: ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

vipro gṛhītvā mṛtakaṁ rāja-dvāry upadhāya saḥ idaṁ provāca vilapann āturo dīna-mānasaḥ

Translation

The brāhmaṇa took the corpse and placed it at the door of King Ugrasena’s court. Then, agitated and lamenting miserably, he spoke the following.

Synonyms

• विप्रः: the brāhmaṇa
• विप्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक

• मृतकम्: the dead (child/body)
• मृतकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राजद्वारि: at the king’s gate
• राजद्वारि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज-द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (राज्ञः द्वारम्)

• उपधाय: having placed/laid down
• उपधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) of उप + धा

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रोवाच: said forth/declared
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र- वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग ‘प्र’

• विलपन्: lamenting
• विलपन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-लप् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभाव (while lamenting)

• आतुरः: distressed
• आतुरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (विप्रस्य)

• दीनमानसः: with a dejected mind
• दीनमानसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन-मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारय-समास (दीनं मानसम् यस्य)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• King (at the gate—Dvārakā’s ruler)

FAQs

Why did the brāhmaṇa place the dead child at the king’s gate in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.89?

He did so to publicly appeal for justice and protection, implying that a ruler’s dharma includes safeguarding citizens from such calamities.

Who is speaking in Bhagavatam 10.89.22 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this event to King Parīkṣit, describing the brāhmaṇa’s grief before the king’s gate.

What practical lesson about leadership does Bhagavatam 10.89.22 suggest?

It highlights accountability: when people suffer, they naturally look to leaders for protection and remedy, so rulers and administrators should act responsibly and compassionately.