Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 15

Dynasty of Kṣatravṛddha: Kāśi Kings, Dhanvantari, Rajī’s Sons, and the Transition to Nahuṣa

Devanagari script

गुरुणा हूयमानेऽग्नौ बलभित् तनयान् रजे: । अवधीद् भ्रंशितान् मार्गान्न कश्चिदवशेषित: ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

guruṇā hūyamāne ’gnau balabhit tanayān rajeḥ avadhīd bhraṁśitān mārgān na kaścid avaśeṣitaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, offered oblations in the fire so that the sons of Rajī would fall from moral principles. When they fell, Lord Indra killed them easily because of their degradation. Not a single one of them remained alive.

Synonyms

• गुरुणा: by the preceptor
• गुरुणा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• हूयमाने: while being invoked
• हूयमाने: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हूयमान (कृदन्त; √ह्वे/√हू धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त कर्मणि (Passive present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अग्नौ’ इति विशेषणम्

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• बलभित्: Balabhit (Indra, slayer of Bala)
• बलभित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलभिद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपाधि/नाम (इन्द्रः)

• तनयान्: sons
• तनयान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• रजेः: of Raji
• रजेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजि (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अवधीत्: killed
• अवधीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√हन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• भ्रंशितान्: deviated / fallen from (the path)
• भ्रंशितान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रंशित (कृदन्त; √भ्रंश् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘मार्गान्’ इति विशेषणम्

• मार्गान्: paths / ways
• मार्गान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (particle of negation)

• कश्चित्: anyone
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• अवशेषितः: left remaining
• अवशेषितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवशेषित (कृदन्त; अव-√शिष् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कश्चित्’ इति विशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Balabhit)
• King Raji
• Raji’s sons
• Guru (unnamed)

FAQs

Why did Indra kill the sons of King Raji in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse states that Indra destroyed them after they were diverted from the proper path (dharma), indicating that deviation from righteous conduct led to their downfall and enabled Indra to eliminate them completely.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavata Purana 9.17.15?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating these events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit in the Ninth Canto.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 9.17.15 for modern life?

When one abandons the right path—especially under the influence of pride, politics, or distraction—one becomes vulnerable to ruin; steady adherence to dharma and guidance from genuine spiritual authority is protective.