Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 9

Indra Slays Namuci—The Limits of Power and the Triumph of Divine Strategy

Devanagari script

न वयं मन्यमानानामात्मानं तत्र साधनम् । गिरो व: साधुशोच्यानां गृह्णीमो मर्मताडना: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

na vayaṁ manyamānānām ātmānaṁ tatra sādhanam giro vaḥ sādhu-śocyānāṁ gṛhṇīmo marma-tāḍanāḥ

Translation

You demigods imagine that you yourselves are the cause of your fame and victory; in such ignorance, saintly souls pity you. Therefore, though your words strike the heart, we do not accept them.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha (negation particle)

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Uttama-puruṣa pronoun; Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• manyamānānām: of those who imagine
• manyamānānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: man (धातु) + manyamāna (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (present middle participle, शानच्), Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive, 6th), Bahuvacana (Plural); ‘of those who think/consider’

• ātmānam: the self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• tatra: there / in that (matter)
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa/viṣaya-avyaya (locative adverb: there/in that matter)

• sādhanam: the means / instrument
• sādhanam: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); predicate object/complement with ‘manyamānānām’

• giraḥ: words
• giraḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gir (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• vaḥ: of you / your
• vaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Madhyama-puruṣa pronoun; Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive, 6th), Bahuvacana (Plural); enclitic

• sādhu-śocyānām: of those truly pitiable
• sādhu-śocyānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sādhu (प्रातिपदिक) + śocya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √śuc)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive, 6th), Bahuvacana (Plural); समासः—साधवः च ते शocyāḥ (truly to be lamented)

• gṛhṇīmaḥ: we accept / take
• gṛhṇīmaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Bahuvacana (Plural), Parasmaipada

• marma-tāḍanāḥ: (as) wounders of the vital points
• marma-tāḍanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marma (प्रातिपदिक) + tāḍana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); predicate nominative; समासः—मर्माणि ताडयन्ति इति (those who strike the vital spots)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about harsh speech and insults?

This verse notes that cutting words can feel like blows to the vital points (marma-tāḍanāḥ), revealing how ego and pride make insults especially painful.

Why do the demigods say they are not the cause of the demons’ suffering?

In the Deva–Asura battle context, the devas reject the demons’ accusation and imply the demons’ own pride and antagonism are the real source of their distress.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

When criticized or insulted, reflect on whether pride is amplifying the pain; respond with steadiness and humility rather than escalating conflict.