Shloka 39

Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa: Divine Friendship, Guru-bhakti, and the Lord’s Grace

Devanagari script

एतद् विदित्वा उदिते रवौ सान्दीपनिर्गुरु: । अन्वेषमाणो न: शिष्यानाचार्योऽपश्यदातुरान् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

etad viditvā udite ravau sāndīpanir guruḥ anveṣamāṇo naḥ śiṣyān ācāryo ’paśyad āturān

Translation

Understanding our plight, after sunrise our guru Sāndīpani, the ācārya, went out searching for us, his disciples, and found us in distress.

Synonyms

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative) एकवचन — object of विदित्वा (‘this’)

• विदित्वा: having understood
• विदित्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Absolutive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √विद् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) — ‘having known’

• उदिते: upon (its) rising
• उदिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदित (√उद्/उद् + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative) एकवचन — ‘when (the sun) had risen’ (locative absolute with रवौ)

• रवौ: in the sun; when the sun
• रवौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative) एकवचन — with उदिते (locative absolute)

• सान्दीपनिः: Sāndīpani
• सान्दीपनिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सान्दीपनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (nominative) एकवचन — apposition to गुरु/आचार्य

• गुरुः: the teacher
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन — subject

• अन्वेषमाणः: searching for
• अन्वेषमाणः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-√इष्/एष् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present middle participle, शानच्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन — qualifying गुरु/आचार्य (‘searching’)

• नः: our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (genitive) बहुवचन — ‘our’

• शिष्यान्: disciples
• शिष्यान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative) बहुवचन — object of अपश्यत्

• आचार्यः: the preceptor
• आचार्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन — subject (same referent as गुरु/सान्दीपनिः)

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — ‘saw’

• आतुरान्: distressed; afflicted
• आतुरान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative) बहुवचन — qualifying शिष्यान् (‘distressed’)

Characters & Entities

• Sāndīpani
• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the guru’s care for disciples?

This verse shows Guru Sāndīpani personally searching for his disciples and recognizing their situation at sunrise, highlighting the ācārya’s protective, compassionate responsibility.

Why did Sandipani Muni search for Krishna and Balarama?

Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were his students; when they did not return, Sāndīpani understood something was wrong and went looking for them, ultimately finding them distressed.

Practical application of guru-bhakti from this shloka in modern life?

A sincere teacher cares for students’ welfare, and sincere students remain accountable and connected—seeking guidance when difficulties arise rather than becoming isolated.