Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 7

Parīkṣit’s Inquiry into Vṛtrāsura’s Bhakti and the Beginning of Citraketu’s Trial

Devanagari script

अत्र न: संशयो भूयाञ्छ्रोतुं कौतूहलं प्रभो । य: पौरुषेण समरे सहस्राक्षमतोषयत् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

atra naḥ saṁśayo bhūyāñ chrotuṁ kautūhalaṁ prabho yaḥ pauruṣeṇa samare sahasrākṣam atoṣayat

Translation

My dear lord, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, although Vṛtrāsura was a sinful demon, he showed the prowess of a most exalted kṣatriya and satisfied Lord Indra in battle. How could such a demon be a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa? These contradictions have caused me great doubt, and they have made me eager to hear of this from you.

Synonyms

• अत्र: here / in this matter
• अत्र: सम्बन्ध (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण ‘here/in this matter’

• नः: our
• नः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th) बहुवचन (enclitic); ‘of us/our’

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भूयात्: may be / should be
• भूयात्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: प्रयोजन (purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Infinitive); ‘to hear’

• कौतूहलम्: curiosity
• कौतूहलम्: कर्ता-सम्बन्ध / भाव (complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौतूहल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as subject-complement ‘curiosity’

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• पौरुषेण: by valor
• पौरुषेण: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु ‘by means of valor’

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• सहस्राक्षम्: Indra (the thousand-eyed)
• सहस्राक्षम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; सहस्र + अक्ष)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘having a thousand eyes’ = Indra); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अतोषयत्: pleased
• अतोषयत्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense in usage ‘satisfied/pleased’

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pleasing Indra (Sahasrākṣa)?

This verse shows Parīkṣit’s eagerness to hear of a person whose valor in battle pleased Indra, indicating that specific deeds within divine order can satisfy even the king of heaven.

Why did King Parīkṣit say this to Śukadeva Gosvāmī?

Parīkṣit, hearing the narrative in Canto 6, Chapter 14, asks Śukadeva to remove doubt and satisfy his curiosity by explaining who it was that pleased Indra through prowess in battle.

Practical application of curiosity and doubt-removal in modern spiritual life?

Approach scripture with honest questions and a desire for clarity—seeking faithful explanations from authentic teachers so doubts are resolved and devotion becomes steady.