Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 39

The Syamantaka Jewel: Accusation, Recovery, and Kṛṣṇa’s Marriage to Satyabhāmā

Devanagari script

स चातिव्रीडितो रत्नं गृहीत्वावाङ्‍मुखस्तत: । अनुतप्यमानो भवनमगमत् स्वेन पाप्मना ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

sa cāti-vrīḍito ratnaṁ gṛhītvāvāṅ-mukhas tataḥ anutapyamāno bhavanam agamat svena pāpmanā

Translation

Hanging his head in great shame, Satrājit accepted the gem and returned home, remorseful over his own sinful conduct.

Synonyms

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• ati-vrīḍitaḥ: very ashamed
• ati-vrīḍitaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + vrīḍita (कृदन्त; √vrīḍ धातु)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound (अव्ययीभाव: ati + vrīḍita), past participle sense; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying saḥ

• ratnam: the jewel
• ratnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• gṛhītvā: having taken
• gṛhītvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √grah; ‘having taken’

• avāṅ-mukhaḥ: with face turned down
• avāṅ-mukhaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avāṅ (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya compound (कर्मधारय: ‘avāṅ eva mukhaḥ’ = ‘face downward’), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; qualifying saḥ

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय) meaning ‘then/from there’

• anutapyamānaḥ: repenting
• anutapyamānaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu√tap (धातु)
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्/मान), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘being remorseful/repenting’

• bhavanam: to (his) house
• bhavanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• agamat: went
• agamat: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• svena: by his own
• svena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; reflexive possessive ‘by/with his own’

• pāpmanā: sin/evil (deed)
• pāpmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about repentance after committing a sin?

This verse highlights that genuine wrongdoing naturally brings shame and inner remorse, indicating the soul’s awareness of dharma and the weight of one’s own pāpa (sinful action).

Why did the person take the jewel and return home with a downcast face in Canto 10 Chapter 56?

Because his conscience was struck—he felt intense embarrassment and regret for his misdeed connected with the jewel, and so he returned home in a visibly humbled state.

Practical application of the Bhagavatam’s teaching on remorse in modern life?

When we recognize a mistake, honest remorse should lead to correction—returning what was taken, admitting fault, and choosing dharmic action rather than justifying wrongdoing.