Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 25

Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation

Devanagari script

राक्षसं भावमापन्न: पादे कल्माषतां गत: । व्यवायकाले दद‍ृशे वनौकोदम्पती द्विजौ ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

rākṣasaṁ bhāvam āpannaḥ pāde kalmāṣatāṁ gataḥ vyavāya-kāle dadṛśe vanauko-dampatī dvijau

Translation

Saudāsa thus acquired the propensity of a man-eater and received on his leg a black spot, for which he was known as Kalmāṣapāda. Once King Kalmāṣapāda saw a brāhmaṇa couple engaged in sexual intercourse in the forest.

Synonyms

• rākṣasam: demonic
• rākṣasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• bhāvam: state/nature
• bhāvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• āpannaḥ: having assumed/attained
• āpannaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√pad (पद् धातु) + āpanna (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘having attained’

• pāde: in the foot
• pāde: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• kalmāṣatām: blackness/blemish
• kalmāṣatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalmāṣatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक

• gataḥ: came to (it)
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु) + gata (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘gone/come to’

• vyavāya-kāle: at the time of intercourse
• vyavāya-kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyavāya (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘vyavāyasya kāle’

• dadṛśe: he saw
• dadṛśe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• vanaukaḥ: forest-dwelling
• vanaukaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana-oka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘vane okaḥ yasya’ = forest-dwelling

• dampatī: the couple
• dampatī: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dampatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन; ‘husband and wife’ as a pair

• dvijau: two brāhmaṇas
• dvijau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kalmāṣapāda (Saudāsa)
• Brāhmaṇa couple (forest-dwelling dvijas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about rākṣasa-bhāva (demoniac mentality)?

This verse shows that when one assumes a rākṣasa-like disposition, perception and conduct degrade—leading to sinful acts and further karmic entanglement.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 9.9.25?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this incident to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while describing events in the Ikṣvāku dynasty.

What practical lesson does Bhagavatam 9.9.25 give for modern life?

Guard the mind from degraded impulses; loss of self-control and disrespect toward dharma can quickly lead to harmful actions and lasting consequences.