Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 3

Dhruva’s War with the Yakṣas and the Protection of the Holy Name

Devanagari script

उत्तमस्त्वकृतोद्वाहो मृगयायां बलीयसा । हत: पुण्यजनेनाद्रौ तन्मातास्य गतिं गता ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

uttamas tv akṛtodvāho mṛgayāyāṁ balīyasā hataḥ puṇya-janenādrau tan-mātāsya gatiṁ gatā

Translation

Uttama, der jüngere Bruder Dhruva Mahārājas, noch unverheiratet, ging einst auf die Jagd und wurde im Himalaya von einem mächtigen Yakṣa getötet. Seine Mutter Suruci folgte dem Weg ihres Sohnes und starb ebenfalls.

Synonyms

• उत्तम: Uttama
• उत्तम: Karta (कर्ता; हत:)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-अव्यय; particle (but/indeed)

• अकृतोद्वाह: unmarried
• अकृतोद्वाह: Karta (कर्ता; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + कृत + उद्वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य उद्वाहः न कृतः = unmarried)

• मृगयायाम्: in hunting
• मृगयायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृगया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Locative, Singular

• बलीयसा: by a stronger one
• बलीयसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक) → बलीयस् (तुलनात्मक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental, Singular; comparative ‘by a stronger (one)’

• हत: was killed
• हत: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुण्यजनेन: by a Yakṣa (Puṇyajana)
• पुण्यजनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; कर्मधारय (पुण्यः जनः)

• अद्रौ: on the mountain
• अद्रौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तत्: his/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular; in तत्-माता (his mother)

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता; गता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive, Singular; pronoun ‘of him’

• गतिम्: the destination/state
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म; गता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• गता: went, attained
• गता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle in sense), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Characters & Entities

• Uttama
• Kuvera
• Yakṣa (Puṇyajana)
• Uttama’s mother

FAQs

How did Uttama die according to the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse says Uttama, though unmarried, went hunting and was killed on a mountain by a powerful Yakṣa (a Puṇyajana, attendant of Kuvera).

Who are the Puṇyajanas mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana?

Puṇyajanas here refers to the Yakṣas—beings who serve Kuvera; one such Yakṣa is described as killing Uttama.

What practical lesson does this shloka teach for modern life?

It underscores life’s unpredictability and the need for detachment and spiritual focus, rather than over-identifying with temporary worldly situations.