Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 14

Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention

False Renunciation Exposed

Devanagari script

तं ताद‍ृशाकृतिं वीक्ष्य मेने धर्मं शरीरिणम् । जटिलं भस्मनाच्छन्नं तस्मै बाणं न मुञ्चति ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ tādṛśākṛtiṁ vīkṣya mene dharmaṁ śarīriṇam jaṭilaṁ bhasmanācchannaṁ tasmai bāṇaṁ na muñcati

Translation

Als er diese Gestalt sah—verfilztes Haar und den Leib mit Asche bedeckt—hielt der Sohn Pṛthus Indra für die leibhaftige Dharma, einen frommen Sannyāsin; daher schoss er keine Pfeile.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• तादृश-आकृतिम्: such a form/appearance
• तादृश-आकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तादृश (प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (‘such a form’); स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Feminine, Accusative, Singular)

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त-अव्ययम् (gerund/absolutive), अर्थः—दृष्ट्वा (having seen)

• मेने: considered
• मेने: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम् (he thought/considered)

• धर्मम्: Dharma, righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• शरीरिणम्: embodied
• शरीरिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरीरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular; adjective)

• जटिलम्: matted-haired
• जटिलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Accusative Singular; adjective)

• भस्मना: with ash
• भस्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular)

• आच्छन्नम्: covered
• आच्छन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः—आ (covered)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, चतुर्थी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Dative, Singular)

• बाणम्: arrow
• बाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (negation particle)

• मुञ्चति: releases, lets fly
• मुञ्चति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम् (he releases)

Characters & Entities

• King Pṛthu
• Dharma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about recognizing Dharma in human form?

This verse says Pṛthu, seeing the ascetic-like form, understood him as Dharma embodied and therefore refrained from attacking—showing that true righteousness can be recognized and honored even amid conflict.

Why did King Pṛthu not release his arrow at that person?

Because Pṛthu perceived the figure—matted-haired and covered with ash—as Dharma personified, and out of reverence and discernment he withheld violence.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Pause before reacting in anger; if a situation calls for higher principles (fairness, conscience, lawful conduct), restrain impulsive retaliation and choose the dharmic response.