Shloka 35

Paramahaṁsa-Dharma: The Avadhūta-like Sannyāsī and Prahlāda’s Dialogue with the ‘Python’ Saint

Devanagari script

मधुकारमहासर्पौ लोकेऽस्मिन्नो गुरूत्तमौ । वैराग्यं परितोषं च प्राप्ता यच्छिक्षया वयम् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

madhukāra-mahā-sarpau loke ’smin no gurūttamau vairāgyaṁ paritoṣaṁ ca prāptā yac-chikṣayā vayam

Translation

এই জগতত মধুকৰ (মৌমাখি) আৰু মহাসৰ্প (অজগৰ) আমাৰ দুজন শ্ৰেষ্ঠ গুৰু; তেওঁলোকৰ শিক্ষাৰে আমি বৈৰাগ্য আৰু সন্তোষ লাভ কৰিছোঁ।

Synonyms

• madhukāra-mahā-sarpau: the bee and the great serpent
• madhukāra-mahā-sarpau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject) (as ‘gurūttamau’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhukāra (प्रातिपदिक) + mahā-sarpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) ‘madhukāraḥ ca mahāsarpaḥ’; Puṁliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Dvi-vacana (Dual/द्विवचन)

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī-vibhakti (Locative/सप्तमी), Eka-vacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Puṁliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Saptamī-vibhakti (Locative/सप्तमी), Eka-vacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• naḥ: our/to us
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (Genitive/षष्ठी), Bahu-vacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• guru-uttamau: the two best teachers
• guru-uttamau: Pradhāna-nāma (प्रधाना संज्ञा) predicate of madhukāra-mahā-sarpau
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘uttamau gurū’; Puṁliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Dvi-vacana (Dual/द्विवचन)

• vairāgyam: detachment
• vairāgyam: Karma (कर्म/Object) of prāptāḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: vairāgya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Eka-vacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• paritoṣam: contentment
• paritoṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object) of prāptāḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: paritoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā-vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Eka-vacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• prāptāḥ: (we) have obtained
• prāptāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya past participle (क्त) used predicatively; Puṁliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahu-vacana (Plural/बहुवचन) (agreeing with vayam)

• yat-śikṣayā: by whose instruction
• yat-śikṣayā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + śikṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘yasyāḥ śikṣā’; Strīliṅga (Feminine/स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā-vibhakti (Instrumental/तृतीया), Eka-vacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Prathamā-vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahu-vacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada Maharaja
• Honeybee (Madhukara)
• Great serpent/Python (Mahasarpa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about learning from nature (honeybee and python)?

This verse says the honeybee and the great serpent can be taken as spiritual teachers, because their example leads one to detachment and contentment.

Why did Prahlada Maharaja speak about the honeybee and the python?

In his instructions on proper human conduct, Prahlada points to simple natural examples that train one to reduce greed and cultivate satisfaction—key supports for devotion.

How can I apply vairagya and contentment from this shloka in modern life?

Live simply, avoid excessive accumulation, and practice satisfaction with what comes by honest means—using that inner freedom to focus on bhakti and spiritual practice.