Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 29

The Dynasty of Vaivasvata Manu Begins — Ilā/Sudyumna and the Birth of Purūravā

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच एकदा गिरिशं द्रष्टुमृषयस्तत्र सुव्रता: । दिशो वितिमिराभासा: कुर्वन्त: समुपागमन् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca ekadā giriśaṁ draṣṭum ṛṣayas tatra suvratāḥ diśo vitimirābhāsāḥ kurvantaḥ samupāgaman

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī answered: Great saintly persons who strictly observed the spiritual rules and regulations and whose own effulgence dissipated all the darkness of all directions once came to see Lord Śiva in that forest.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); compound: śrī + śukaḥ (revered Śuka)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ekadā: once
• ekadā: Kāla (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• giriśam: Giriśa (Śiva)
• giriśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giriśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• draṣṭum: to see
• draṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), purpose (प्रयोजन)

• ṛṣayaḥ: sages
• ṛṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• suvratāḥ: of good vows, virtuous
• suvratāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); compound: su + vrata (good vows)

• diśaḥ: directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vitimira-ābhāsāḥ: making (them) appear free of darkness, brightening
• vitimira-ābhāsāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-timira + ābhāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: vitimira (free from darkness) + ābhāsa (appearance/shine)

• kurvantaḥ: doing, making
• kurvantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); Parasmaipada sense

• samupāgaman: approached, came near
• samupāgaman: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); with prefixes sam-upa-

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Girīśa (Lord Śiva)
• Ṛṣis (sages)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the spiritual influence of great sages?

This verse describes vow-bound ṛṣis whose presence made the directions appear free of darkness—indicating the purifying, illuminating influence of spiritually advanced devotees.

Why did the sages go to see Girīśa (Lord Śiva) in Canto 9?

Śukadeva narrates that the sages approached Lord Śiva to have his darśana; the context presents revered ṛṣis seeking association and guidance from a great divine personality.

Practical application of the shloka’s teaching in modern life?

Seek the company of disciplined, spiritually serious people; their character and clarity can “remove darkness” by inspiring higher habits and devotion.