Shloka 6

The Deliverance of Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva

Yamala-Arjuna Līlā Prelude and Culmination

Devanagari script

तं द‍ृष्ट्वा व्रीडिता देव्यो विवस्त्रा: शापशङ्किता: । वासांसि पर्यधु: शीघ्रं विवस्त्रौ नैव गुह्यकौ ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ dṛṣṭvā vrīḍitā devyo vivastrāḥ śāpa-śaṅkitāḥ vāsāṁsi paryadhuḥ śīghraṁ vivastrau naiva guhyakau

Translation

Als sie Nārada sahen, schämten sich die nackten Himmelsmädchen und, aus Furcht vor einem Fluch, bedeckten sie rasch ihre Körper mit Gewändern. Doch die beiden Söhne Kuveras taten es nicht; ohne sich um Nārada zu kümmern, blieben sie nackt.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (gerund/absolutive); धातुः—दृश् (to see)

• व्रीडिताः: ashamed
• व्रीडिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रीडित (प्रातिपदिक; व्रीड्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (देव्यः)

• देव्यः: the goddesses (celestial women)
• देव्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विवस्त्राः: naked, without clothes
• विवस्त्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (देव्यः)

• शापशङ्किताः: afraid of a curse
• शापशङ्किताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाप + शङ्कित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शापस्य शङ्किता: = fearing a curse); विशेषणम् (देव्यः)

• वासांसि: garments
• वासांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• पर्यधुः: put on, donned
• पर्यधुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, तृतीयपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातुः—धा (to put on/place), उपसर्गः—परि

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• विवस्त्रौ: naked (the two)
• विवस्त्रौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (गुह्यकौ)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• गुह्यकौ: the two Guhyakas (Yakṣa attendants)
• गुह्यकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

Characters & Entities

• the celestial maidens (devyaḥ)
• the two Guhyakas (guhyakau)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about modesty and propriety in divine stories?

This verse shows the maidens feeling shame and promptly covering themselves, reflecting the Bhagavatam’s emphasis on maryādā (propriety) even within extraordinary events.

Why were the maidens afraid of being cursed in this verse?

They feared that appearing unclothed before a male observer could invite a curse according to social-religious norms; thus they hurried to dress as soon as they saw him.

What is a practical application of this shloka in modern life?

It highlights personal boundaries and respectful conduct—responding to situations with dignity, self-awareness, and adherence to ethical norms.