Shloka 40

Devanagari script

गजाह्वये हृते नद्या कौशाम्ब्यां साधु वत्स्यति । उक्तस्ततश्चित्ररथस्तस्माच्छुचिरथ: सुत: ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

gajāhvaye hṛte nadyā kauśāmbyāṁ sādhu vatsyati uktas tataś citrarathas tasmāc chucirathaḥ sutaḥ

Translation

When the river inundates the city of Gajāhvaya (Hastināpura), Nemicakra will dwell righteously in Kauśāmbī. His son will be famed as Citraratha, and Citraratha’s son will be Śuciratha.

Synonyms

• गजाह्वये: in Gajāhvaya (Hastināpura)
• गजाह्वये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); place-name; compound: गज (elephant) + आह्वय (name/called)

• हृते: when (it was) taken away
• हृते: Kāla/Hetu (काल/हेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त/क्त), Neuter, Locative, Singular; agreeing with गजाह्वये; from √हृ (to take away)

• नद्या: by the river
• नद्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• कौशाम्ब्याम्: in Kauśāmbī
• कौशाम्ब्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशाम्बी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); place-name

• साधु: well / properly
• साधु: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण)

• वत्स्यति: he will dwell
• वत्स्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन) from √वस् (to dwell)

• उक्तः: called / named
• उक्तः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन) from √वच् (to say); used as name-epithet

• ततः: then
• ततः: Anukrama (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय)

• चित्ररथः: Citraratha
• चित्ररथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्र + रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); proper name; karmadhāraya: चित्र (variegated) qualifying रथ

• तस्मात्: from him / thereafter
• तस्मात्: Apādāna/Anukrama (अपादान/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative-form used adverbially (तस्मात् = 'from him/thereafter'); functions as avyaya in genealogical sequence

• शुचिरथः: Śuciratha
• शुचिरथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुचि + रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); proper name; karmadhāraya: शुचि (pure/bright) qualifying रथ

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Gajāhvaya (Hastināpura)
• Kauśāmbī
• Citraratha
• Śuciratha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Hastinapura being destroyed by a river flood?

This verse states that when the river carried away Gajāhvaya (Hastināpura), the king relocated and settled properly in Kauśāmbī.

Why is the king called Citraratha after moving to Kauśāmbī?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī explains that after the relocation from flooded Hastināpura, he became known by the name Citraratha, marking a change in circumstance recorded in the dynasty’s history.

What is a practical lesson from this shloka for modern life?

Even amid sudden loss and upheaval, one should act wisely, re-establish life in a righteous way, and continue one’s responsibilities without losing steadiness.