Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 8

Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti

Devanagari script

प्राह नैनां सुरपते नेतुमर्हस्यनागसम् । मुञ्च मुञ्च महाभाग सतीं परपरिग्रहम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

prāha naināṁ sura-pate netum arhasy anāgasam muñca muñca mahā-bhāga satīṁ para-parigraham

Translation

Nārada Muni said: O Indra, King of the demigods, this woman is certainly sinless. You should not drag her off in this merciless way. O greatly fortunate one, this chaste woman is the wife of another. You must immediately release her.

Synonyms

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘प्र’ उपसर्गः (said/spoke forth)

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

• एनाम्: her
• एनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुर-पते: O lord of the gods
• सुर-पते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘सुराणां पतिः’ (lord of the gods)

• नेतुम्: to take/lead (away)
• नेतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन; purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (Infinitive), परस्मैपद-भाव (verbal noun); अर्थः ‘नेतुं’ (to lead)

• अर्हसि: you ought/are fit
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• अनागसम्: sinless/innocent
• अनागसम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनागस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with ‘एनाम्’); विशेषणम्; अर्थः ‘निर्दोषाम्’ (sinless, guiltless)

• मुञ्च: release
• मुञ्च: Kriya (क्रिया; आदेश/vidhi)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मुञ्च: release (again)
• मुञ्च: Kriya (क्रिया; आदेश)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• महा-भाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महा-भाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘महान् भागः यस्य’ (greatly fortunate) used as vocative

• सतीम्: the virtuous woman
• सतीम्: Karma (कर्म; object to be released)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक; स्त्री-शब्द)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘पतिव्रता/साध्वी’ (chaste/virtuous woman)

• पर-परिग्रहम्: one who belongs to another (another’s wife)
• पर-परिग्रहम्: Karma (कर्म; apposition to सतीम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘परस्य परिग्रहः’ (belonging to another; another’s wife/possession)

Characters & Entities

• Nārada Muni
• Indra
• Kayādhu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about protecting a chaste woman (satī)?

This verse shows Nārada Muni instructing Indra not to abduct a blameless, chaste woman who is under another’s protection, emphasizing dharma and restraint.

Why did Nārada Muni say this to Indra in Canto 7 Chapter 7?

Indra was taking Kayādhu, the wife of Hiraṇyakaśipu; Nārada intervened, declaring her sinless and not to be taken, and urged Indra to release her.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Respect boundaries and protect the dignity of women—do not exploit power or position to interfere in others’ family life, and uphold ethical conduct even in conflict.