Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 41

Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense

Devanagari script

इत्यप: प्राश्य राजर्षिश्चिन्तयन् मनसाच्युतम् । प्रत्यचष्ट कुरुश्रेष्ठ द्विजागमनमेव स: ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

ity apaḥ prāśya rājarṣiś cintayan manasācyutam pratyacaṣṭa kuru-śreṣṭha dvijāgamanam eva saḥ

Translation

So trank der königliche Weise Ambarīṣa etwas Wasser und sann in seinem Herzen über Acyuta; o Bester der Kurus, er wartete einzig auf die Rückkehr des Dvija Durvāsā.

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle) — ‘thus’

• अपः: water
• अपः: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रयोगः), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन — Accusative plural ‘waters’

• प्राश्य: having drunk
• प्राश्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/क्त्वा) — ‘having drunk/eaten’

• राजर्षिः: the royal sage
• राजर्षिः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• चिन्तयन्: thinking
• चिन्तयन्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्तय् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘thinking’

• मनसा: with (his) mind
• मनसा: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (Viṣṇu)
• अच्युतम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• प्रत्यचष्ट: he noticed
• प्रत्यचष्ट: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद — ‘he perceived/observed’

• कुरु-श्रेष्ठ: O best of the Kurus
• कुरु-श्रेष्ठ: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — ‘O best of the Kurus’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: कुरूणां श्रेष्ठः)

• द्विज-आगमनम्: the brāhmaṇa’s arrival
• द्विज-आगमनम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + आगमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्विजस्य आगमनम्)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle) — ‘indeed/just’

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular

Characters & Entities

• Ambarisha Maharaja
• Acyuta (Lord Vishnu/Krishna)
• Parikshit Maharaja
• Durvasa Muni

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about remembering Acyuta (Vishnu) in all situations?

This verse shows Ambarīṣa Mahārāja meditating on Acyuta even during routine acts like sipping water, illustrating steady smaraṇa (remembrance) as the devotee’s natural protection and focus.

Why is the brāhmaṇa’s arrival mentioned right after Ambarisha Maharaja remembers Acyuta?

The narrative emphasizes that the king’s immediate inner refuge is the Lord; as Durvāsā arrives, Ambarīṣa remains composed and God-centered, setting the devotional tone for the unfolding test.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Link everyday actions to brief inner remembrance—mentally offering your work, meals, or transitions to Kṛṣṇa/Vişṇu—so devotion becomes continuous rather than occasional.