Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 3

Yamarāja Instructs the Yamadūtas: Supreme Authority, Mahājanas, and the Glory of the Holy Name

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच भगवत्पुरुषै राजन् याम्या: प्रतिहतोद्यमा: । पतिं विज्ञापयामासुर्यमं संयमनीपतिम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca bhagavat-puruṣai rājan yāmyāḥ pratihatodyamāḥ patiṁ vijñāpayām āsur yamaṁ saṁyamanī-patim

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī replied: My dear King, when the order carriers of Yamarāja were baffled and defeated by the order carriers of Viṣṇu, they approached their master, the controller of Saṁyamanī-purī and master of sinful persons, to tell him of this incident.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘the venerable Śuka’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• bhagavat-puruṣaiḥ: by the Lord's servants
• bhagavat-puruṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural; tatpuruṣa: ‘men/servants of the Lord’

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular

• yāmyāḥ: the Yamadūtas
• yāmyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural; ‘Yama's servants’

• pratihata-udyamāḥ: with their efforts thwarted
• pratihata-udyamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratihata + udyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural; tatpuruṣa: ‘whose effort was obstructed’; agrees with yāmyāḥ

• patim: their lord
• patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• vijñāpayām: informed (periphrastic)
• vijñāpayām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √jñap (ज्ञप्)
• Form: Causative stem (णिच्) with periphrastic perfect construction; here as part of periphrastic perfect: vijñāpayām āsur = ‘they informed’; vijñāpayām = perfect auxiliary base (लिट्-परस्मैपद-पर्याय)

• āsuḥ: they did/were (aux.)
• āsuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural; parasmaipada; auxiliary completing periphrastic perfect with vijñāpayām

• yamam: Yama
• yamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; apposition to patim

• saṁyamanī-patim: lord of Saṁyamanī
• saṁyamanī-patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṁyamanī + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ‘lord of Saṁyamanī (his city)’; apposition to yamam

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• King Parīkṣit
• Yamadūtas
• Viṣṇudūtas (Bhagavat-puruṣas)
• Yamarāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Yamadutas being stopped by Vishnudutas?

This verse states that the Yamadūtas were prevented from carrying out their duty by the Lord’s servants, and therefore they went to Yamarāja to report what had happened.

Why did the Yamadutas report to Yamaraja in Srimad Bhagavatam 6.3?

Because their attempt to arrest the soul was obstructed by Bhagavān’s messengers, they sought clarification and instruction from their master, Yamarāja, the authority over punishment and discipline.

What is the practical application of this verse for modern life?

When higher spiritual principles override ordinary expectations, one should seek proper guidance from authentic authority—just as the Yamadūtas approached Yamarāja for clarity about dharma.