Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 8

Śrāddhadeva Manu’s Sons: Pṛṣadhra’s Curse and Renunciation; Genealogies of Nariṣyanta and Diṣṭa

Devanagari script

मन्यमानो हतं व्याघ्रं पृषध्र: परवीरहा । अद्राक्षीत् स्वहतां बभ्रुं व्युष्टायां निशि दु:खित: ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

manyamāno hataṁ vyāghraṁ pṛṣadhraḥ para-vīra-hā adrākṣīt sva-hatāṁ babhruṁ vyuṣṭāyāṁ niśi duḥkhitaḥ

Translation

كان پṛṣadhra، القادر على قهر الأعداء، يظنّ أنه قتل النمر ليلًا؛ فلما أصبح رأى أن التي قُتلت بيده هي البقرة، فامتلأ حزنًا شديدًا.

Synonyms

• manyamānaḥ: thinking, supposing
• manyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Śānac-present middle participle (शानच्), Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom./1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• hatam: killed
• hatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (कृदन्त; √han + kta)
• Form: Kta-participle; Puṁliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc./2nd), Ekavacana (sg.)

• vyāghram: tiger
• vyāghram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc./2nd), Ekavacana (sg.)

• pṛṣadhraḥ: Pṛṣadhra
• pṛṣadhraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣadhra (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom./1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• para-vīra-hā: slayer of enemy heroes
• para-vīra-hā: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para + vīra + han (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: parasya vīrasya hantā (slayer of enemy heroes); Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom./1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• adrākṣīt: saw
• adrākṣīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (sg.), Parasmaipada

• sva-hatām: killed by himself
• sva-hatām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva + hata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: svena hatā (killed by oneself); Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc./2nd), Ekavacana (sg.)

• babhrum: the brown cow
• babhrum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: babhru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc./2nd), Ekavacana (sg.)

• vyuṣṭāyām: when dawn had come
• vyuṣṭāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyuṣṭā (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √vas ‘to dawn’ with vi-; past passive/adj.)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī (Loc./7th), Ekavacana (sg.); locative absolute with niśi implied: ‘when (night) had passed/dawned’

• niśi: in the night
• niśi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī (Loc./7th), Ekavacana (sg.)

• duḥkhitaḥ: sorrowful
• duḥkhitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom./1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

Characters & Entities

• Pṛṣadhra
• Guru (spiritual master)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about accidentally committing sin?

This verse shows that even an unintended act—here, mistaking a cow for a tiger—can bring severe remorse and consequences, emphasizing carefulness and accountability in dharma.

Who is Pṛṣadhra in the Bhagavatam and what happened to him?

Pṛṣadhra is a king described in Canto 9; during a night incident he believed he killed a tiger, but at dawn realized he had killed his guru’s cow, becoming grief-stricken.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Act with vigilance, verify before acting in haste, and when mistakes occur—especially those affecting dependents or sacred responsibilities—accept responsibility and seek rectification.