Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 16

Uddhava Recalls Kṛṣṇa’s Mission: Earth’s Burden, Royal Dharma, and the Prelude to Dvārakā’s Withdrawal

Devanagari script

एवं सञ्चिन्त्य भगवान् स्वराज्ये स्थाप्य धर्मजम् । नन्दयामास सुहृद: साधूनां वर्त्म दर्शयन् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ sañcintya bhagavān sva-rājye sthāpya dharmajam nandayām āsa suhṛdaḥ sādhūnāṁ vartma darśayan

Translation

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, thus thinking to Himself, established Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira in the position of supreme control of the world in order to show the ideal of administration on the path of piety.

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• सञ्चिन्त्य: having reflected
• सञ्चिन्त्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having thought), सम्-उपसर्ग

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्वराज्ये: in his own kingdom
• स्वराज्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व+राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य राज्ये = in his own kingdom)

• स्थाप्य: having installed/established
• स्थाप्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) causative sense ‘to establish’ (स्थापयित्वा), पूर्वकाल

• धर्मजम्: Dharma’s son (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• धर्मजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म+ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य जः = son of Dharma)

• नन्दयामास: gladdened
• नन्दयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; causative/णिजन्त अर्थ ‘to gladden’

• सुहृदः: friends/well-wishers
• सुहृदः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (object plural)

• साधूनाम्: of the virtuous
• साधूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• वर्त्म: path
• वर्त्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दर्शयन्: showing
• दर्शयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘showing’

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmaja)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by “showing the path of the saintly” (sādhūnāṁ vartma darśayan)?

It means the Lord teaches by example—establishing dharma and guiding society so devotees can follow a clear, righteous path aligned with devotion and virtue.

Who is the “son of Dharma” (dharmaja) mentioned in this verse?

Dharmaja refers to King Yudhiṣṭhira, renowned for righteousness, who is traditionally described as born from Dharma (Yama).

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

Choose principled leadership in your own sphere—act ethically, support virtuous people, and learn from saintly examples to keep one’s life aligned with dharma and devotion.