Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 26

The Disappearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the Aftermath in Dvārakā

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा सुहृद्वधं राजन्नर्जुनात्ते पितामहा: । त्वां तु वंशधरं कृत्वा जग्मु: सर्वे महापथम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

śrutvā suhṛd-vadhaṁ rājann arjunāt te pitāmahāḥ tvāṁ tu vaṁśa-dharaṁ kṛtvā jagmuḥ sarve mahā-patham

Translation

Hearing from Arjuna of the death of their friend, my dear King, your grandfathers established you as the maintainer of the dynasty and left to prepare for their departure from this world.

Synonyms

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: श्रु, अर्थे: ‘श्रुत्वा’ = having heard

• सुहृत्-वधम्: the killing of (your) friends
• सुहृत्-वधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सुहृदां वधः’ (killing of friends)

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

• अर्जुनात्: from Arjuna
• अर्जुनात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• ते: your
• ते: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पितामहाः: grandfathers/elders
• पितामहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• वंश-धरम्: the upholder of the dynasty
• वंश-धरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वंशस्य धरः’ (upholder of the lineage)

• कृत्वा: having made (you)
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: कृ, अर्थे: having made/appointing

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण of ‘पितामहाः’

• महापथम्: the great path (of departure)
• महापथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महान् पन्थाः’ (the great path)

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• King Parīkṣit
• Pāṇḍavas (pitāmahāḥ/elders)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Pandavas leaving the world?

This verse states that after hearing from Arjuna about the death of their dear ones, the elders ensured Parīkṣit would carry on the dynasty and then they departed on the “great path,” indicating their final departure from this world.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention Arjuna in this verse to King Parīkṣit?

Because Arjuna was the one who conveyed the tragic news of the loss of loved ones, which became the immediate cause for the elders to entrust the lineage to Parīkṣit and then renounce worldly life.

What is the practical lesson of “mahā-patham” (the great path) for modern life?

The verse highlights impermanence: fulfill one’s essential responsibilities (like protecting dharma and family duty) and cultivate detachment, remembering that everyone must eventually depart.