Shloka 38

Rājasūya: Agrapūjā for Kṛṣṇa and the Slaying (and Liberation) of Śiśupāla

Devanagari script

एवमादीन्यभद्राणि बभाषे नष्टमङ्गल: । नोवाच किञ्चिद्भगवान्यथा सिंह: शिवारुतम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

evam-ādīny abhadrāṇi babhāṣe naṣṭa-maṅgalaḥ novāca kiñcid bhagavān yathā siṁhaḥ śivā-rutam

Translation

Thus, bereft of all auspicious fortune, Śiśupāla spoke these and other vile insults. Yet the Supreme Lord said nothing, as a lion ignores a jackal’s cry.

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• आदीनि: and similar (things)
• आदीनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; 'आदि' = 'and so on' (here adjectival to abhadrāṇi)

• अभद्राणि: inauspicious words/things
• अभद्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ- (नञ्) + भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः—न भद्राणि (नञ्-तत्पुरुष)

• बभाषे: spoke
• बभाषे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नष्टमङ्गलः: one whose auspiciousness was ruined
• नष्टमङ्गलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट (कृदन्त; √नश् 'नाशे' + क्त) + मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य मङ्गलं नष्टम् सः

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• किञ्चित्: anything; something
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; अनिश्चित/अल्पार्थक सर्वनाम

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Upamana-marker (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/तुलनार्थक (comparative particle)

• सिंहः: a lion
• सिंहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• शिवारुतम्: the jackal’s cry
• शिवारुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक; 'jackal') + रुत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; √रु 'शब्दे' + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—शिवायाः रुतम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Śiśupāla

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about tolerating insults?

This verse shows Śrī Kṛṣṇa remaining silent despite offensive speech, illustrating divine forbearance and the ideal of not reacting to provocation.

Why did Śiśupāla keep speaking offensively to Kṛṣṇa?

Śiśupāla, described as naṣṭa-maṅgalaḥ (bereft of auspiciousness), was driven by envy and hostility, continuing to utter inauspicious insults while Kṛṣṇa did not respond.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

When provoked, avoid impulsive replies; maintain composure and respond only when beneficial—like the lion that ignores meaningless howling.