Shloka 17

Kṛṣṇa Leads Kālayavana to Mucukunda; The Yavana Is Burned; Mucukunda’s Prayers and Boon of Bhakti

Devanagari script

नरलोकं परित्यज्य राज्यं निहतकण्टकम् । अस्मान् पालयतो वीर कामास्ते सर्व उज्झिता: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

nara-lokaṁ parityajya rājyaṁ nihata-kaṇṭakam asmān pālayato vīra kāmās te sarva ujjhitāḥ

Translation

O Tapferer, du gabst im Menschenreich ein unangefochtenes Königreich auf und hast, während du uns beschütztest, all deine persönlichen Wünsche zurückgestellt.

Synonyms

• nara-lokam: the human world
• nara-lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘of men’ + ‘world’

• parityajya: having abandoned
• parityajya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari + √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त) from √tyaj with pari-; indeclinable verbal form

• rājyam: kingdom
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nihata-kaṇṭakam: free of obstacles
• nihata-kaṇṭakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nihata (कृदन्त, √han) + kaṇṭaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘destroyed’ + ‘thorns/obstacles’ → ‘with obstacles removed’

• asmān: us
• asmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• pālayataḥ: of (you) protecting
• pālayataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pāl (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; agreeing with ‘te’ (your) understood: ‘of you who protect’

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• kāmāḥ: desires
• kāmāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; enclitic

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with kāmāḥ

• ujjhitāḥ: abandoned / given up
• ujjhitāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + √hā (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; predicate with kāmāḥ

Characters & Entities

• Mucukunda

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about a king giving up personal desires for his subjects?

This verse praises the ideal of rāja-dharma: a true protector sets aside private enjoyment and rules to remove the “thorns” of suffering and danger from the kingdom.

Why do the citizens speak this verse to King Mucukunda?

They acknowledge his sacrifices—leaving ordinary comforts and pleasures—because he has long protected them and maintained a peaceful, trouble-free kingdom.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Serve responsibly in your role—family, work, or community—by reducing selfish demands and prioritizing protection, integrity, and the welfare of those entrusted to you.