Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 33

Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat

Devanagari script

स मुक्तो लोकनाथाभ्यां व्रीडितो वीरसम्मत: । तपसे कृतसङ्कल्पो वारित: पथि राजभि: ॥ ३२ ॥ वाक्यै: पवित्रार्थपदैर्नयनै: प्राकृतैरपि । स्वकर्मबन्धप्राप्तोऽयं यदुभिस्ते पराभव: ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

sā mukto loka-nāthābhyāṁ vrīḍito vīra-sammataḥ tapase kṛta-saṅkalpo vāritaḥ pathi rājabhiḥ

Translation

Released by the two Lords of the universe, Jarāsandha—honored among warriors—felt ashamed and resolved to perform austerities. But on the road several kings restrained him with sacred counsel and worldly reasoning, saying, “Your defeat by the Yadus is simply the unavoidable fruit of the bondage of your past karma.”

Synonyms

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

• मुक्तः: released, freed
• मुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत (past passive participle)

• लोकनाथाभ्याम्: by the lords of the world (two)
• लोकनाथाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-नाथ (प्रातिपदिक; लोक + नाथ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य नाथौ)

• व्रीडितः: ashamed
• व्रीडितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रीड् (धातु) → व्रीडित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• वीरसम्मतः: esteemed by heroes
• वीरसम्मतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर-सम्मत (प्रातिपदिक; वीर + सम्मत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वीरैः सम्मतः = by heroes approved/esteemed)

• तपसे: for austerity
• तपसे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• कृतसङ्कल्पः: having made a resolve
• कृतसङ्कल्पः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत-सङ्कल्प (प्रातिपदिक; कृत + सङ्कल्प)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव: ‘कृतः सङ्कल्पः यस्य’ (resolved/with firm determination)

• वारितः: restrained, stopped
• वारितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वार्/वृ (धातु) → वारित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• पथि: on the road
• पथि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• राजभिः: by kings
• राजभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• वाक्यैः: with words
• वाक्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• पवित्रार्थपदैः: with phrases of purifying meaning
• पवित्रार्थपदैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र-अर्थ-पद (प्रातिपदिक; पवित्र + अर्थ + पद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पवित्रः अर्थः येषां पदानां तैः)

• नयनैः: with leading (guiding) [arguments/means]
• नयनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• प्राकृतैः: ordinary, common
• प्राकृतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• स्वकर्मबन्धप्राप्तः: having obtained bondage from his own deeds
• स्वकर्मबन्धप्राप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-कर्म-बन्ध-प्राप्त (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + कर्म + बन्ध + प्राप्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वकर्मणः बन्धः’ इति, तेन प्राप्तः (having incurred bondage due to one’s own actions)

• अयम्: this (man)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यदुभिः: by the Yadus
• यदुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (your)

• पराभवः: defeat, humiliation
• पराभवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Mucukunda

FAQs

Who is Mucukunda in Srimad Bhagavatam and why does he take to austerity?

Mucukunda, a celebrated king and warrior, becomes ashamed of worldly entanglement after being released by divine grace and resolves to pursue tapasya for spiritual purification.

What does this verse teach about fame and spiritual life?

Even when one is praised as heroic, true spiritual awakening can produce humility and a desire to leave worldly prestige for disciplined devotion and penance.

How can I apply the lesson of tapasya from this shloka in modern life?

Reduce distractions, adopt daily spiritual discipline (japa, study, service), and choose long-term inner growth over short-term recognition.