Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 33

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

False Renunciation Exposed

Devanagari script

नैवात्मने महेन्द्राय रोषमाहर्तुमर्हसि । उभावपि हि भद्रं ते उत्तमश्लोकविग्रहौ ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

naivātmane mahendrāya roṣam āhartum arhasi ubhāv api hi bhadraṁ te uttamaśloka-vigrahau

Translation

Brahmā fuhr fort: „O König, es ziemt dir nicht, Zorn gegen Mahendra, Indra, zu hegen. Segen sei über euch beide; denn du und Indra seid Teilaspekte des Höchsten Herrn, der mit erhabensten Hymnen gepriesen wird.“

Synonyms

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic/only)

• आत्मने: for yourself
• आत्मने: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• महेन्द्राय: for Mahendra (Indra)
• महेन्द्राय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् इन्द्रः)

• रोषम्: anger
• रोषम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• आहर्तुम्: to bring on / to take up
• आहर्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/Infinitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), क्रियार्थ (to bring/assume)

• अर्हसि: you ought
• अर्हसि: विधेय (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• उभौ: both
• उभौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अपि: also
• अपि: समुच्चय (Additive particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: हेतु/निश्चय (Reason/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for/indeed)

• भद्रम्: good fortune
• भद्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; blessing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); आशीर्वाद-प्रयोग (auspiciousness)

• ते: to you
• ते: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्तम-श्लोक-विग्रहौ: embodiments of the Supreme Lord
• उत्तम-श्लोक-विग्रहौ: विशेषण/सम्बोधन-विशेष्य (Apposition to उभौ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम + श्लोक + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (उत्तमश्लोकस्य विग्रहौ = embodiments of the Lord praised by sublime verses)

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu Mahārāja
• Indra (Mahendra)
• Uttamaśloka (Śrī Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about controlling anger?

This verse advises not to harbor anger—even toward an offender like Indra—because seeing others through devotion and higher understanding dissolves resentment.

Why did the Kumāras tell Pṛthu Mahārāja not to be angry with Indra?

They pacified Pṛthu during the horse-sacrifice dispute, urging him to rise above personal offense and recognize the Lord’s presence guiding events.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life when I feel wronged?

Pause before reacting, avoid self-blame and revenge, and respond from a higher purpose—seeking peace, dharma, and devotion rather than victory in conflict.