Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 7

Avadhūta’s Further Teachers: Detachment, Solitude, One-Pointed Meditation, and the Lord as Āśraya

Devanagari script

सा तज्जुगुप्सितं मत्वा महती व्रीडिता तत: । बभञ्जैकैकश: शङ्खान् द्वौ द्वौ पाण्योरशेषयत् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

sā taj jugupsitaṁ matvā mahatī vrīḍitā tataḥ babhañjaikaikaśaḥ śaṅkhān dvau dvau pāṇyor aśeṣayat

Translation

The young girl feared that the men would consider her family to be poor because their daughter was busily engaged in the menial task of husking rice. Being very intelligent, the shy girl broke the shell bracelets from her arms, leaving just two on each wrist.

Synonyms

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: that (thing)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• जुगुप्सितम्: disgusting, contemptible
• जुगुप्सितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जुगुप्सित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √गुप्स्/गुप्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying तत्)

• मत्वा: having considered
• मत्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; धातु: मन् (to think/consider)

• महती: great, very (much)
• महती: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying सा)

• व्रीडिता: ashamed
• व्रीडिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, with state)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रीडित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √व्रीड्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying सा)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदर्थे (ablative adverb)

• बभञ्ज: broke
• बभञ्ज: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); धातु: भञ्ज् (to break)

• एक-एकशः: one by one
• एक-एकशः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक) + शस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (distributive adverb): ‘one by one’

• शङ्खान्: conch-shells
• शङ्खान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया/प्रथमा (Acc./Nom.), द्विवचन (Dual); संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• द्वौ: two (at a time)
• द्वौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया/प्रथमा (Acc./Nom.), द्विवचन (Dual); पुनरुक्ति (repetition for distributive sense)

• पाण्योः: in (her) two hands
• पाण्योः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी/षष्ठी विभक्ति (Loc./Gen. 7th/6th), द्विवचन (Dual); अत्र सप्तमी (locative): ‘in/on the two hands’

• अशेषयत्: left (remaining), kept
• अशेषयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शिष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); causative sense in usage: ‘left/kept remaining’; धातु: शिष् (to remain)

Characters & Entities

• Avadhūta (Dattātreya)
• the maiden (kanyā)

FAQs

What is the meaning of the bangles story in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.9?

It teaches that many associations create noise and distraction; reducing unnecessary company supports inner quiet and steady spiritual practice.

Why did the maiden break her bangles in Bhagavatam Canto 11 Chapter 9?

Out of modesty and discernment, she removed the noisy bangles so the clinking would not reveal her presence—illustrating the value of simplicity and solitude.

How can I apply Bhagavatam 11.9.7 in modern life?

Simplify habits and social noise, keep focused company, and create quiet time for japa, study, and reflection so devotion is not scattered.