Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 8

Purukutsa’s Rasātala Victory; Triśaṅku and Hariścandra; Rohita and Śunaḥśepha

Devanagari script

सोऽनपत्यो विषण्णात्मा नारदस्योपदेशत: । वरुणं शरणं यात: पुत्रो मे जायतां प्रभो ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

so ’napatyo viṣaṇṇātmā nāradasyopadeśataḥ varuṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yātaḥ putro me jāyatāṁ prabho

Translation

Hariścandra hatte keinen Sohn und war darum zutiefst niedergeschlagen. Auf Nāradas Rat nahm er Zuflucht zu Varuṇa und sprach: „O Herr, schenke mir einen Sohn.“

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अनपत्यः: childless
• अनपत्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्-अपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेधार्थ: “without offspring”

• विषण्णात्मा: dejected in heart
• विषण्णात्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—विषण्णः आत्मा यस्य (कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत्)

• नारदस्य: of Nārada
• नारदस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• उपदेशतः: by (his) instruction/advice
• उपदेशतः: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे—“from/according to instruction”

• वरुणम्: Varuṇa
• वरुणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियापद ‘यातः’ सह—शरणं यातः

• यातः: went/has gone
• यातः: Kriya-samartha (क्रियासमर्थ/मुख्यविधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (सः) यातः = having gone

• पुत्रः: a son
• पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता—of jāyatām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मे: my/to me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; enclitic form

• जायताम्: let (a son) be born
• जायताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; आशीर्लिङ्गार्थे—“let (him) be born”

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Varuṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter of a deity for blessings?

This verse shows approaching a divine authority (Varuṇa) with humility and surrender, guided by a saint (Nārada), as a dharmic way to seek blessings.

Why did he follow Nārada’s advice and approach Varuṇa?

Because he was distressed due to being childless, and Nārada’s instruction directed him to take refuge of Varuṇa and pray for a son.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

Seek guidance from wise teachers, then approach life’s needs through sincere prayer, humility, and disciplined, dharmic effort rather than despair.