Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 13

Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense

Devanagari script

नाभागादम्बरीषोऽभून्महाभागवत: कृती । नास्पृशद् ब्रह्मशापोऽपि यं न प्रतिहत: क्‍वचित् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

nābhāgād ambarīṣo ’bhūn mahā-bhāgavataḥ kṛtī nāspṛśad brahma-śāpo ’pi yaṁ na pratihataḥ kvacit

Translation

From Nābhāga, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa took birth. Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was an exalted devotee, celebrated for his great merits. Although he was cursed by an infallible brāhmaṇa, the curse could not touch him.

Synonyms

• नाभागात्: from Nābhāga
• नाभागात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अम्बरीषः: Ambarīṣa
• अम्बरीषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभूत्: was/became
• अभूत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• महाभागवतः: a great devotee
• महाभागवतः: विशेषण (Qualifier of Ambarīṣa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘great bhāgavata/devotee’

• कृती: accomplished
• कृती: विशेषण (Qualifier of Ambarīṣa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘accomplished/virtuous’

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अस्पृशत्: touched/affected
• अस्पृशत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मशापः: the brāhmaṇa’s curse
• ब्रह्मशापः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject of aspṛśat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘curse of a brāhmaṇa/Brahman’

• अपि: even
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/समुच्चय-निपात (particle: even/also)

• यम्: whom
• यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun referring to Ambarīṣa

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• प्रतिहतः: overcome/defeated
• प्रतिहतः: कर्तृसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Predicate adjective of ‘he’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective ‘struck/overcome’ (negated)

• क्वचित्: ever/anywhere
• क्वचित्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/काल-अव्यय (indefinite adverb: anywhere/ever)

Characters & Entities

• Nābhāga
• Ambarīṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how a devotee is protected from curses?

This verse states that Ambarīṣa, being a mahā-bhāgavata, could not be touched even by a brāhmaṇa’s curse—indicating the Lord’s special protection over pure devotees.

Who is speaking about Ambarisha Maharaja in Canto 9 Chapter 4?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates Ambarīṣa’s greatness while speaking to King Parīkṣit in the Ninth Canto.

Practical application: how can I face obstacles with faith like Ambarisha?

Stay steady in sincere devotional practice and integrity (dharma); the verse highlights that unwavering devotion makes one spiritually unshakable even amid external opposition.