Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 20

Soma Pacifies the Pracetās; Dakṣa’s Haṁsa-guhya Prayers; Hari Grants Creative Power

Devanagari script

तमबृंहितमालोक्य प्रजासर्गं प्रजापति: । विन्ध्यपादानुपव्रज्य सोऽचरद्‌दुष्करं तप: ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

tam abṛṁhitam ālokya prajā-sargaṁ prajāpatiḥ vindhya-pādān upavrajya so ’carad duṣkaraṁ tapaḥ

Translation

ولكن لما رأى براجابتي دكشا أن توليد المخلوقات لا يتم على الوجه اللائق، قصد جبلاً قريباً من سلسلة جبال وِندھيا، وهناك مارس تقشّفاً بالغ المشقّة.

Synonyms

• तम्: that
• तम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन — that

• अबृंहितम्: expanded/increased
• अबृंहितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृंह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन (contextual agreement with प्रजासर्गम्) — increased/expanded

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + लोक् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund) — having seen

• प्रजासर्गम्: the creation of beings
• प्रजासर्गम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन — creation of creatures

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• विन्ध्यपादान्: the Vindhya foothills
• विन्ध्यपादान्: कर्म (Goal as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विन्ध्य + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन — the foothills/feet of Vindhya

• उपव्रज्य: having approached
• उपव्रज्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप + व्रज् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund) — having approached

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन — he

• अचरत्: performed/practiced
• अचरत्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — he practiced/performed

• दुष्करम्: difficult
• दुष्करम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुस् + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन — difficult to do

• तपः: austerity/penance
• तपः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन — austerity

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣa (Prajāpati)

FAQs

Why did Daksha perform austerities in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 6 Chapter 4?

Because he saw that the creation of progeny had become obstructed, so he undertook severe tapasya to remove the impediment and fulfill his duty as Prajāpati.

Who is speaking this verse in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this account while instructing Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

What is the practical lesson of Daksha’s tapasya for modern life?

When one’s responsibilities become blocked, sincere discipline and purposeful spiritual practice can help restore clarity, strength, and the ability to act in alignment with dharma.