Shloka 20

Paraśurāma Avenges Jamadagni; Restoration Through Sacrifice; Viśvāmitra’s Line and Devarāta (Śunaḥśepha)

Devanagari script

पितु: कायेन सन्धाय शिर आदाय बर्हिषि । सर्वदेवमयं देवमात्मानमयजन्मखै: ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

pituḥ kāyena sandhāya śira ādāya barhiṣi sarva-devamayaṁ devam ātmānam ayajan makhaiḥ

Translation

Thereafter, Paraśurāma joined his father’s head to the dead body and placed the whole upon kuśa grass. By offering sacrifices, he began to worship Lord Vāsudeva, the all-pervading Paramātmā within all the devas and every living being.

Synonyms

• pituḥ: of (his) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• kāyena: with the body
• kāyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• sandhāya: having joined/assembled
• sandhāya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-dhā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: सम्+धा (to join/compose/arrange)

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (form: शिरः)

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु: आ+दा (to take)

• barhiṣi: on the sacrificial grass
• barhiṣi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: barhis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• sarva-deva-mayam: consisting of all the gods
• sarva-deva-mayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; देवम् विशेषयति—‘सर्वदेवैः मयः/पूर्णः’ (consisting of all gods)

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ātmānam: himself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; आत्मशब्दः (reflexive)

• ayajat: he worshipped/sacrificed
• ayajat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: यज् (to sacrifice/worship)

• makhaiḥ: with sacrifices/rites
• makhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Paraśurāma
• Jamadagni

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord being 'sarva-devamaya'?

This verse states that the Supreme Lord (the ātmā, the indwelling Self) embodies and includes all the demigods, so worship directed to Him is ultimately worship of the divine source of all devas.

Why did Paraśurāma arrange his father's body and perform sacrifices?

In the narrative context of Canto 9, Paraśurāma honors and restores his father Jamadagni after the violent events surrounding the family, performing Vedic rites as an act of duty and reverence.

What is a practical application of this shloka in modern life?

It teaches honoring elders and sacred duties while remembering that all worship and goodness culminate in devotion to the Supreme Lord, the inner Self and source of all divine powers.