Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 10

Mohinī-mūrti Distributes Amṛta; Rāhu is Severed; Results Differ by Shelter

Devanagari script

सालावृकाणां स्त्रीणां च स्वैरिणीनां सुरद्विष: । सख्यान्याहुरनित्यानि नूत्नं नूत्नं विचिन्वताम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

sālāvṛkāṇāṁ strīṇāṁ ca svairiṇīnāṁ sura-dviṣaḥ sakhyāny āhur anityāni nūtnaṁ nūtnaṁ vicinvatām

Translation

O Dämonen! Wie Affen, Schakale und Hunde in ihren Begierdebeziehungen unbeständig sind und jeden Tag neue Gefährten suchen, so suchen auch selbstbestimmte, zügellose Frauen täglich neue Freunde. Freundschaft mit einer solchen Frau ist niemals dauerhaft—so lautet die Ansicht der Weisen.

Synonyms

• sālāvṛkāṇām: of jackals
• sālāvṛkāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sālāvṛka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Plural

• strīṇām: of women
• strīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive Plural

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

• svairiṇīnām: of wanton women
• svairiṇīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svairiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive Plural

• sura-dviṣaḥ: O haters of the gods (demons)
• sura-dviṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + dviṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Plural; तत्पुरुष: surān dviṣanti iti (haters of the gods)

• sakhyāni: friendships
• sakhyāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Plural (प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन); object-complement with āhuḥ

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person Plural (बहुवचन)

• anityāni: impermanent
• anityāni: Karma (कर्म) (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Plural; agrees with sakhyāni

• nūtnam: newly
• nūtnam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nūtna (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (द्वितीया-प्रयोग as क्रियाविशेषण)

• nūtnam: again and again anew
• nūtnam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nūtna (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Adverbial accusative; repetition for emphasis

• vicinvatām: of those who keep seeking (new ones)
• vicinvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√ci (चि धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) in Genitive Plural (षष्ठी बहुवचन) used as dependent genitive: 'of those who seek/choose'

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī-mūrti
• Rāhu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about unstable friendships based on sense enjoyment?

This verse says such friendships are temporary—like those of jackals or the sensual-minded—because they constantly look for new association and pleasure.

Why did Mohinī-mūrti speak this to Rāhu in Canto 8 Chapter 9?

Rāhu tried to claim a share among the devas; Mohinī rebukes the asuric mentality by pointing out the unreliability and self-interest that governs such alliances.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Choose relationships grounded in character, dharma, and devotion rather than novelty and gratification; cultivate steady association (satsaṅga) instead of chasing constant new excitement.