Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 8

Śrāddhadeva Manu’s Sons: Pṛṣadhra’s Curse and Renunciation; Genealogies of Nariṣyanta and Diṣṭa

Devanagari script

मन्यमानो हतं व्याघ्रं पृषध्र: परवीरहा । अद्राक्षीत् स्वहतां बभ्रुं व्युष्टायां निशि दु:खित: ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

manyamāno hataṁ vyāghraṁ pṛṣadhraḥ para-vīra-hā adrākṣīt sva-hatāṁ babhruṁ vyuṣṭāyāṁ niśi duḥkhitaḥ

Translation

Pṛṣadhra, der meinte, in der Nacht den Tiger getötet zu haben und der Feinde bezwingen konnte, sah am Morgen, dass durch seine eigene Hand die Kuh gefallen war. Tief betrübt wurde er.

Synonyms

• manyamānaḥ: thinking, supposing
• manyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Śānac-present middle participle (शानच्), Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom./1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• hatam: killed
• hatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (कृदन्त; √han + kta)
• Form: Kta-participle; Puṁliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc./2nd), Ekavacana (sg.)

• vyāghram: tiger
• vyāghram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc./2nd), Ekavacana (sg.)

• pṛṣadhraḥ: Pṛṣadhra
• pṛṣadhraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣadhra (प्रातिपदिक; proper noun)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom./1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• para-vīra-hā: slayer of enemy heroes
• para-vīra-hā: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para + vīra + han (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: parasya vīrasya hantā (slayer of enemy heroes); Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom./1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

• adrākṣīt: saw
• adrākṣīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana (sg.), Parasmaipada

• sva-hatām: killed by himself
• sva-hatām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva + hata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: svena hatā (killed by oneself); Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc./2nd), Ekavacana (sg.)

• babhrum: the brown cow
• babhrum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: babhru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc./2nd), Ekavacana (sg.)

• vyuṣṭāyām: when dawn had come
• vyuṣṭāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyuṣṭā (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √vas ‘to dawn’ with vi-; past passive/adj.)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī (Loc./7th), Ekavacana (sg.); locative absolute with niśi implied: ‘when (night) had passed/dawned’

• niśi: in the night
• niśi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Saptamī (Loc./7th), Ekavacana (sg.)

• duḥkhitaḥ: sorrowful
• duḥkhitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom./1st), Ekavacana (sg.)

Characters & Entities

• Pṛṣadhra
• Guru (spiritual master)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about accidentally committing sin?

This verse shows that even an unintended act—here, mistaking a cow for a tiger—can bring severe remorse and consequences, emphasizing carefulness and accountability in dharma.

Who is Pṛṣadhra in the Bhagavatam and what happened to him?

Pṛṣadhra is a king described in Canto 9; during a night incident he believed he killed a tiger, but at dawn realized he had killed his guru’s cow, becoming grief-stricken.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Act with vigilance, verify before acting in haste, and when mistakes occur—especially those affecting dependents or sacred responsibilities—accept responsibility and seek rectification.