Shloka 28

Devanagari script

निशम्याक्रन्दितं देवी पुत्रयोर्नीयमानयो: । हतास्म्यहं कुनाथेन नपुंसा वीरमानिना ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

niśamyākranditaṁ devī putrayor nīyamānayoḥ hatāsmy ahaṁ kunāthena napuṁsā vīra-māninā

Translation

Urvaśī loved the two lambs as her own sons. Hearing their cries as they were carried off, she rebuked her husband: “I am undone under the protection of an unworthy spouse—thinking himself a hero, yet truly fearful and powerless!”

Synonyms

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: Kriyā (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √शम्/शम्य् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव, 'having heard'

• आक्रन्दितम्: the crying/wailing
• आक्रन्दितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + √क्रन्द् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) used substantively; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• देवी: the goddess/lady (Urvashī)
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• पुत्रयोः: of (her) two sons
• पुत्रयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (genitive), द्विवचन (dual)

• नीयमानयोः: being led away
• नीयमानयोः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीयमान (√नी, धातु; शानच्/मान-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि/भावे कृदन्त (present passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (genitive), द्विवचन (dual); qualifies 'पुत्रयोः'

• हता: killed/ruined
• हता: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• कुनाथेन: by a bad protector/wretched lord
• कुनाथेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कु- (उपसर्ग/प्रत्यय) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• नपुंसा: by an impotent/eunuch-like man
• नपुंसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नपुंसक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• वीर-मानिना: thinking himself a hero
• वीर-मानिना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक) + मानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'considering oneself a hero'), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन (singular); qualifies 'नपुंसा/कुनाथेन'

FAQs

What is the meaning of 'napuṁsā vīra-māninā' in Srimad Bhagavatam?

It describes a person who is actually powerless or unmanly in character, yet falsely thinks himself heroic—highlighting the danger of pride without real virtue.

Why does the queen lament after hearing her sons being taken away?

Because the helpless cries of her sons reveal the collapse of protection and dharma in her household, and she blames the failure on an unworthy protector who only pretends to be courageous.

What is the practical lesson of this Bhagavatam verse for modern life?

Do not rely on image-based strength; real leadership and protection require character, responsibility, and dharmic courage—otherwise dependents suffer.