Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 20

Paramahaṁsa-Dharma: The Avadhūta-like Sannyāsī and Prahlāda’s Dialogue with the ‘Python’ Saint

Devanagari script

श्रीनारद उवाच \स इत्थं दैत्यपतिना परिपृष्टो महामुनि: । स्मयमानस्तमभ्याह तद्वागमृतयन्त्रित: ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

śrī-nārada uvāca sa itthaṁ daitya-patinā paripṛṣṭo mahā-muniḥ smayamānas tam abhyāha tad-vāg-amṛta-yantritaḥ

Translation

Nārada Muni fuhr fort: Als der Heilige so von Prahlāda Mahārāja, dem König der Daityas, befragt wurde, war er von diesem Regen nektargleicher Worte bezaubert und antwortete mit einem Lächeln.

Synonyms

• śrī-nāradaḥ: Śrī Nārada
• śrī-nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (उपपद) + nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (honorific): ‘श्रीमान् नारदः’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ittham: thus
• ittham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus, in this manner)

• daitya-patinā: by the lord of the Daityas
• daitya-patinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘दैत्यानां पतिः’

• paripṛṣṭaḥ: having been questioned
• paripṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari + pra + √prach (धातु) → pṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग: ‘having been asked’

• mahā-muniḥ: the great sage
• mahā-muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महान् मुनिः’

• smayamānaḥ: smiling
• smayamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smi (धातु) → smayamāna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘smiling’

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• abhyāha: addressed/spoke to
• abhyāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + ā + √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘spoke to/addressed’

• tad-vāk-amṛta-yantritaḥ: captivated by the nectar of his words
• tad-vāk-amṛta-yantritaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + vāk (प्रातिपदिक) + amṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + yantrita (कृदन्त; √yam/यन्त्र्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘तस्य वाक्-अमृतेण यन्त्रितः’ = captivated/controlled by the nectar of his words

Characters & Entities

• Nārada Muni
• Hiraṇyakaśipu

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 7.13.20 describe?

It narrates that Nārada Muni, after being questioned by Hiraṇyakaśipu, replies smiling—suggesting a composed, compassionate delivery of dharma-teachings.

Why did Nārada Muni smile while replying to Hiraṇyakaśipu?

The verse indicates Nārada was serene and inwardly steady; he responded gently, moved by the ‘nectar-like’ quality of the king’s earnest inquiry, even though the questioner was a Daitya ruler.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

When questioned—even by hostile or difficult people—respond with calmness, clarity, and goodwill; dharmic truth is best communicated without agitation.