Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 6

Avadhūta’s Further Teachers: Detachment, Solitude, One-Pointed Meditation, and the Lord as Āśraya

Devanagari script

तेषामभ्यवहारार्थं शालीन् रहसि पार्थिव । अवघ्नन्त्या: प्रकोष्ठस्थाश्चक्रु: शङ्खा: स्वनं महत् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

teṣām abhyavahārārthaṁ śālīn rahasi pārthiva avaghnantyāḥ prakoṣṭha-sthāś cakruḥ śaṅkhāḥ svanaṁ mahat

Translation

To prepare food for those guests, she withdrew to a private place and began to husk the rice. As she pounded it, the conchshell bracelets on her arms struck one another and made a loud sound.

Synonyms

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc./Neut.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अभ्यवहार-अर्थम्: for eating/consumption
• अभ्यवहार-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यवहार (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (purpose sense): ‘अभ्यवहारस्य अर्थम्/अर्थाय’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); प्रयोजन (purpose)

• शालीन्: rice grains
• शालीन्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रहसि: in secret, privately
• रहसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; सप्तमी-अर्थे (locative adverb)

• पार्थिव: O king (earthly ruler)
• पार्थिव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अवघ्नन्त्याः: of her who was pounding/striking
• अवघ्नन्त्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-हन् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक-शतृ (Present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); धातु: हन् (to strike) उपसर्ग: अव; ‘of (her) who was striking’

• प्रकोष्ठ-स्थाः: situated in a storeroom/closet
• प्रकोष्ठ-स्थाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रकोष्ठे स्थाः’; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifying शङ्खाः)

• चक्रुः: made, produced
• चक्रुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); धातु: कृ (to do/make)

• शङ्खाः: conch-shells
• शङ्खाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• स्वनम्: sound, noise
• स्वनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• महत्: great, loud
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying स्वनम्)

Characters & Entities

• King Yadu

FAQs

What is the meaning of the conchshells making a loud sound in Bhagavatam 11.9.6?

The verse describes a simple event—rice being pounded in privacy while conchshells in a nearby storeroom resound loudly—setting up a teaching that even ordinary occurrences can become sources of spiritual insight.

Who is speaking Bhagavatam 11.9.6 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating to King Parīkṣit, addressing King Yadu within the story (“O King”), as the Avadhūta’s account is being relayed in this chapter.

How can this verse be applied in modern life for spiritual growth?

It encourages mindful observation: everyday sounds and events can prompt reflection and learning, helping one cultivate awareness and detachment rather than living mechanically.