Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 47

Ikṣvāku Dynasty: Vikukṣi’s Offense, Purañjaya’s Victory, Māndhātā’s Birth, and Saubhari’s Fall and Renunciation

Devanagari script

यद्गार्हस्थ्यं तु संवीक्ष्य सप्तद्वीपवतीपति: । विस्मित: स्तम्भमजहात् सार्वभौमश्रियान्वितम् ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

yad-gārhasthyaṁ tu saṁvīkṣya sapta-dvīpavatī-patiḥ vismitaḥ stambham ajahāt sārvabhauma-śriyānvitam

Translation

সপ্তদ্বীপসমন্বিত সমগ্র পৃথিবীর অধিপতি রাজা মান্ধাতা যখন সৌভরি মুনির গার্হস্থ্য ঐশ্বর্য দেখলেন, তখন তিনি বিস্ময়ে স্তম্ভিত হয়ে গেলেন। তখন বিশ্বসম্রাট পদকে ঘিরে তাঁর মিথ্যা গর্ব দূর হয়ে গেল।

Synonyms

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• गार्हस्थ्यम्: householder life
• गार्हस्थ्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गार्हस्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: contrast/emphasis)

• संवीक्ष्य: having observed
• संवीक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) अव्ययभाव; 'having observed'

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन (numeral)

• द्वीपवती: of the earth with seven islands/continents
• द्वीपवती: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वीपवत् + ई (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; 'of (the earth) possessing continents/islands'—समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन

• पतिः: the lord (king)
• पतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (तत्पुरुष): (सप्त-द्वीपवती)-पति; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विस्मितः: astonished
• विस्मितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्मि? → विस्मि + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• स्तम्भम्: stupor, paralysis
• स्तम्भम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अजहात्: did not give up
• अजहात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'did not abandon' (negation implied by context; form itself affirmative)

• सार्वभौम: imperial, universal
• सार्वभौम: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सार्वभौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन

• श्रियान्वितम्: endowed with splendor
• श्रियान्वितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्री + अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √इ (अन्वि) + क्त)
• Form: समास (तत्पुरुष): श्री-अन्वित; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

Purport

Everyone is proud of his own position, but here was an astounding experience, in which the emperor of the entire world felt himself defeated in all details of material happiness by the opulence of Saubhari Muni.

Characters & Entities

• saptadvīpavatī-patiḥ (the emperor/king)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about gṛhastha (householder) life?

This verse shows that genuine gṛhastha life—when seen in its true, dharmic and spiritually grounded form—can astonish even a world-emperor, indicating that household duty can be deeply elevating when aligned with higher principles.

Why did the ruler of the seven dvīpas become stunned after seeing this household life?

Because what he witnessed in that gārhasthya was extraordinary—something beyond ordinary material prosperity—so he remained motionless in amazement despite being a sovereign himself.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life for spiritual growth?

It suggests making one’s family life sacred through dharma—integrity, self-control, service, and devotion—so that spiritual depth, not mere status, becomes the real measure of greatness.