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Shloka 15

Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction

तं नि:श्वसन्तं स्फुरिताधरोष्ठं सुनीतिरुत्सङ्ग उदूह्य बालम् । निशम्य तत्पौरमुखान्नितान्तं सा विव्यथे यद्गदितं सपत्‍न्या ॥ १५ ॥

taṁ niḥśvasantaṁ sphuritādharoṣṭhaṁ sunītir utsaṅga udūhya bālam niśamya tat-paura-mukhān nitāntaṁ sā vivyathe yad gaditaṁ sapatnyā

When Dhruva came to his mother, breathing hard, his lips trembling with anger and weeping bitterly, Queen Suniti lifted the child onto her lap. Those in the palace who had heard Suruci’s harsh words recounted everything in detail, and Suniti became deeply distressed.

tamhim
tam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
niḥśvasantamsighing
niḥśvasantam:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootniḥ-śvasat (कृदन्त; √śvas धातु)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ) उपसर्गयुक्त
sphurita-adhara-oṣṭhamwith trembling lips
sphurita-adhara-oṣṭham:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsphurita (कृदन्त; √sphur धातु) + adhara (प्रातिपदिक) + oṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘स्फुरितौ अधरौ ओष्ठौ यस्य’ (trembling lower-lip and lips)
sunītiḥSunīti
sunītiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsunīti (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
utsaṅgamonto (her) lap
utsaṅgam:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootutsaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अङ्क/उत्सङ्ग’
udūhyahaving lifted
udūhya:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootud-vah (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (Gerund), ‘having lifted up’
bālamthe child
bālam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbāla (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
niśamyahaving heard
niśamya:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootni-śam (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (Gerund), ‘having heard’
tat-paura-mukhātfrom the prince’s mouth
tat-paura-mukhāt:
Apadana (अपादान)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम) + paura (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘तस्य (बालस्य) पौरस्य मुखात्’ = from the mouth of that prince
nitāntamexceedingly
nitāntam:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootnitānta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘अत्यन्तम्’
she
:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
vivyathewas distressed
vivyathe:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvyath (धातु)
Formलिट्/परस्मैपद-रूपेण प्राचीन-परिपाट्या; वस्तुतः लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद-प्रयोगः (विव्यथे)
yatwhat/that which
yat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)
gaditamspoken
gaditam:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootgadita (कृदन्त; √gad धातु)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)
sapatnyāby the co-wife
sapatnyā:
Kartr-karana (कर्ता/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootsapatnī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन
S
Sunīti
D
Dhruva
S
Suruci

FAQs

This verse shows Sunīti immediately sheltering Dhruva on her lap and sharing his pain—Bhāgavatam portrays compassion and protective care as a natural, dharmic response to suffering.

Because Suruci’s harsh words were spoken publicly in the royal setting, and Sunīti realized the depth of the humiliation inflicted on Dhruva, which wounded both mother and child.

When someone is emotionally shaken, first offer shelter and calm listening (like Sunīti did) before advice—compassionate presence can stabilize the heart after public criticism or rejection.