Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 2

Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation

Devanagari script

दिलीपस्तत्सुतस्तद्वदशक्त: कालमेयिवान् । भगीरथस्तस्य सुतस्तेपे स सुमहत् तप: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

dilīpas tat-sutas tadvad aśaktaḥ kālam eyivān bhagīrathas tasya sutas tepe sa sumahat tapaḥ

Translation

Wie Aṁśumān war auch sein Sohn Dilīpa außerstande, die Gaṅgā in diese Welt zu bringen, und im Lauf der Zeit wurde auch er vom Tod ereilt. Dann vollzog Dilīpas Sohn Bhagīratha äußerst strenge Entsagungen, um die Gaṅgā zur Erde herabzuführen.

Synonyms

• दिलीपः: Dilīpa
• दिलीपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिलीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• तत्सुतः: his son
• तत्सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्-सुत (प्रातिपदिक; तत् + सुत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘तस्य सुतः’

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘in the same way’

• अशक्तः: unable
• अशक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थः ‘unable’

• कालम्: time (a period)
• कालम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (अत्यन्तसंयोग/कालाधिकरण), एकवचन

• एयिवान्: passed away / went (to his end)
• एयिवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इ (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (perfect active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘having gone/elapsed’ (here: ‘passed (his time)’)

• भगीरथः: Bhagīratha
• भगीरथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगीरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• तेपे: performed (austerities)
• तेपे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुमहत्: very great
• सुमहत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-महत् (प्रातिपदिक; सु + महत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्गवत्-पूर्वपद ‘सु’ (intensifier)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Dīlīpa
• Bhagīratha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Bhagīratha’s tapasya?

This verse highlights that Bhagīratha undertook extraordinarily great austerities, distinguishing him from his predecessors who were unable to fulfill the divine mission.

Why is King Dilīpa described as ‘unable’ in this verse?

In the narrative, earlier kings in the line could not accomplish the intended spiritual task; the verse notes that Dilīpa also could not complete it and eventually passed away.

How can Bhagīratha’s example be applied in modern devotional life?

It teaches steady determination: when a sacred goal seems difficult, sincere discipline and sustained spiritual effort (tapasya) can make one qualified to succeed.