Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 24

Devanagari script

नैष त्वया मनुष्येन्द्र वधमर्हति सर्पराट् । अनेन पीतममृतमथ वा अजरामर: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

naiṣa tvayā manuṣyendra vadham arhati sarpa-rāṭ anena pītam amṛtam atha vā ajarāmaraḥ

Translation

O king among men, it is not fitting that this king of snakes be slain by your hand, for he has drunk the devas’ nectar of immortality; therefore he is not subject to the ordinary signs of old age and death.

Synonyms

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• एषः: this one (he)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मनुष्येन्द्र: O lord of men
• मनुष्येन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; समास: मनुष्याणाम् इन्द्रः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• वधम्: killing
• वधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अर्हति: deserves / is fit for
• अर्हति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्पराट्: the king of serpents
• सर्पराट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प + राज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: सर्पाणां राट्/राजा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अनेन: by this (means)
• अनेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पीतम्: drunk
• पीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘drunk’

• अमृतम्: nectar/ambrosia
• अमृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अथ: and/then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (particle: then/also)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अजरामरः: ageless and deathless
• अजरामरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजर + अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: अजरश्च अमरश्च (द्वन्द्व, इतरेतर)

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Takṣaka

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about facing death without fear?

This verse frames the snake-bite death as a providential gateway—like drinking nectar—encouraging the devotee to meet death through surrender and hearing Bhagavatam rather than revenge.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī say Takṣaka does not deserve to be killed?

Because Takṣaka is portrayed as an instrument of destiny in Parīkṣit’s final, liberating seven days; retaliation would distract from Parīkṣit’s perfected hearing and renunciation.

How can I apply Parīkṣit’s attitude in modern life?

When unavoidable events arrive, reduce blame and fixation on enemies, and redirect energy toward steady spiritual practice—especially hearing/reading Bhagavatam and remembering the Lord.