Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

धिगर्जुनं मृषावादं धिगात्मश्लाघिनो धनु: । दैवोपसृष्टं यो मौढ्यादानिनीषति दुर्मति: ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

dhig arjunaṁ mṛṣā-vādaṁ dhig ātma-ślāghino dhanuḥ daivopasṛṣṭaṁ yo mauḍhyād āninīṣati durmatiḥ

Translation

“To hell with that liar Arjuna! To hell with that braggart’s bow! He is so foolish that he has deluded himself into thinking he can bring back a person whom destiny has taken away.”

Synonyms

• dhik: shame! fie!
• dhik: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhik (अव्यय)
• Form: निन्दार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable particle of censure)

• arjunam: Arjuna (as object of censure)
• arjunam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• mṛṣā-vādam: false speech/lying
• mṛṣā-vādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + vāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थे: ‘मृषा एव वादः’ (false speech)

• dhik: shame!
• dhik: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhik (अव्यय)
• Form: निन्दार्थक-अव्यय

• ātma-ślāghinaḥ: of the self-boaster
• ātma-ślāghinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + ślāghin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘आत्मनः श्लाघी’ (self-boaster)

• dhanuḥ: the bow
• dhanuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• daiva-upasṛṣṭam: sent by fate
• daiva-upasṛṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daiva (प्रातिपदिक) + upasṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √sṛj धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘उपसृष्ट’ = sent/impelled; तत्पुरुष: ‘दैवेन उपसृष्टम्’ (sent by fate)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• mauḍhyāt: from folly
• mauḍhyāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mauḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• āninīṣati: intends to bring/lead
• āninīṣati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√nī (नी धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; desiderative/causative nuance: ‘आ-निनीषति’ = wishes/intends to bring/lead

• durmatiḥ: the evil-minded one
• durmatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durmati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pride in one’s own strength or weapons?

This verse condemns self-glorification—boasting of one’s prowess (even of a famous bow) is futile when events are governed by higher divine arrangement.

Why did the brāhmaṇa speak harshly against Arjuna in Canto 10 Chapter 89?

After repeated tragedies (his sons dying at birth), the brāhmaṇa, overwhelmed with grief and anger, blamed Arjuna’s promise of protection as empty, criticizing him for failing to prevent what he saw as providential loss.

How can this teaching about destiny be applied in modern life?

Do your duty sincerely, but avoid ego and blame; accept outcomes with humility, recognizing limits of control, and take shelter of the Divine rather than pride in personal capability.