Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 3

Mahārāja Sagara, Kapila Muni, and the Deliverance of the Sixty Thousand Sons

Devanagari script

वृद्धं तं पञ्चतां प्राप्तं महिष्यनुमरिष्यती । और्वेण जानतात्मानं प्रजावन्तं निवारिता ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

vṛddhaṁ taṁ pañcatāṁ prāptaṁ mahiṣy anumariṣyatī aurveṇa jānatātmānaṁ prajāvantaṁ nivāritā

Translation

Bāhuka died when he was old, and one of his wives wanted to die with him, following the satī rite. At that time, however, Aurva Muni, knowing her to be pregnant, forbade her to die.

Synonyms

• vṛddham: old
• vṛddham: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pañcatām: death (lit. state of five elements)
• pañcatām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prāptam: obtained/reached
• prāptam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāpta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past Passive Participle, Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• mahiṣī: the queen
• mahiṣī: Karma (Object/कर्म - in passive construction)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• anumariṣyatī: intending to die after (follow in death)
• anumariṣyatī: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-mṛ (धातु)
• Form: Future Active Participle (Shatri/Syan), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• aurveṇa: by Aurva (the sage)
• aurveṇa: Karta (Agent/कर्ता - in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aurva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• jānatā: knowing/understanding
• jānatā: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jānat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present Active Participle, Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• ātmānam: the self (here: the embryo)
• ātmānam: Karma (Object/कर्म - of jānatā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prajāvantam: having life/progeny (viable)
• prajāvantam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prajāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nivāritā: was prevented/stopped
• nivāritā: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-vṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (kta), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Characters & Entities

• Aurva (Ṛṣi Aurva)
• the King (aged ruler of the Ikṣvāku line)
• the Queen (Mahīṣī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about a wife following her husband in death (sati)?

This verse shows that even if a queen is ready to follow her husband in death, a realized sage may restrain her when a higher dharmic purpose remains—here, the continuation of progeny and the unfolding of destiny.

Why did Sage Aurva stop the queen from dying with the king?

Aurva understood the king’s destined role and saw he was still able to produce heirs; therefore he prevented the queen’s act so the royal line could continue according to providence.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Strong devotion should be guided by wisdom and dharma: seek counsel from spiritually grounded guidance before making irreversible choices, especially when responsibilities to family and society remain.