Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 25

Vīrabhadra Destroys Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Dakṣa-yajña-vināśa

Devanagari script

साधुवादस्तदा तेषां कर्म तत्तस्य पश्यताम् । भूतप्रेतपिशाचानां अन्येषां तद्विपर्यय: ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

sādhu-vādas tadā teṣāṁ karma tat tasya paśyatām bhūta-preta-piśācānāṁ anyeṣāṁ tad-viparyayaḥ

Translation

Als sie die Tat Vīrabhadras sahen, freute sich das Gefolge von Lord Śiva und rief fröhlich, und alle Bhūtas, Geister und Dämonen machten einen tumultartigen Lärm. Andererseits weinten die für das Opfer verantwortlichen Brāhmaṇas vor Trauer über den Tod von Dakṣa.

Synonyms

• साधु-वादः: approval/praise
• साधु-वादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक) + वाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः अर्थ: 'साधु इति वादः' (praise/approval); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• कर्म: the act/deed
• कर्म: Viśeṣya/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nom./Acc. singular; here appositional)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nom./Acc. singular; referring to the deed)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• पश्यताम्: of the onlookers
• पश्यताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्यत् (प्रातिपदिक) < दृश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle) 'पश्यत्'; षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural): 'of those who were seeing'

• भूत-प्रेत-पिशाचानाम्: of the bhūtas, pretas, and piśācas
• भूत-प्रेत-पिशाचानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): 'भूताश्च प्रेताश्च पिशाचाश्च'; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• अन्येषाम्: of others
• अन्येषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• तद्-विपर्ययः: the opposite (reaction)
• तद्-विपर्ययः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'तस्य विपर्ययः' (the opposite of that); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about different reactions to the same action?

This verse shows that the same deed can be praised as saintly by one group while being opposed by ghostly and tamasic beings, revealing differences in consciousness and nature.

Who are bhūtas, pretas, and piśācas in the Bhagavata Purana?

They are categories of subtle, ghostly beings associated with ignorance (tamas), often depicted as reacting contrary to dharmic or spiritually uplifting actions.

Practical application: how should I handle criticism when doing the right thing?

Like in this verse, expect mixed reactions; focus on dharma and saintly guidance rather than approval from those inclined toward negativity or ignorance.