Shloka 13

Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense

Devanagari script

नाभागादम्बरीषोऽभून्महाभागवत: कृती । नास्पृशद् ब्रह्मशापोऽपि यं न प्रतिहत: क्‍वचित् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

nābhāgād ambarīṣo ’bhūn mahā-bhāgavataḥ kṛtī nāspṛśad brahma-śāpo ’pi yaṁ na pratihataḥ kvacit

Translation

From Nābhāga was born Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, a great bhāgavata devotee renowned for his noble merits. Though cursed by an infallible brāhmaṇa, the curse could not touch him and never took effect.

Synonyms

• नाभागात्: from Nābhāga
• नाभागात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अम्बरीषः: Ambarīṣa
• अम्बरीषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अभूत्: was/became
• अभूत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• महाभागवतः: a great devotee
• महाभागवतः: विशेषण (Qualifier of Ambarīṣa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘great bhāgavata/devotee’

• कृती: accomplished
• कृती: विशेषण (Qualifier of Ambarīṣa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘accomplished/virtuous’

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अस्पृशत्: touched/affected
• अस्पृशत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्मशापः: the brāhmaṇa’s curse
• ब्रह्मशापः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject of aspṛśat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘curse of a brāhmaṇa/Brahman’

• अपि: even
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/समुच्चय-निपात (particle: even/also)

• यम्: whom
• यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun referring to Ambarīṣa

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• प्रतिहतः: overcome/defeated
• प्रतिहतः: कर्तृसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Predicate adjective of ‘he’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective ‘struck/overcome’ (negated)

• क्वचित्: ever/anywhere
• क्वचित्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/काल-अव्यय (indefinite adverb: anywhere/ever)

Characters & Entities

• Nābhāga
• Ambarīṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how a devotee is protected from curses?

This verse states that Ambarīṣa, being a mahā-bhāgavata, could not be touched even by a brāhmaṇa’s curse—indicating the Lord’s special protection over pure devotees.

Who is speaking about Ambarisha Maharaja in Canto 9 Chapter 4?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates Ambarīṣa’s greatness while speaking to King Parīkṣit in the Ninth Canto.

Practical application: how can I face obstacles with faith like Ambarisha?

Stay steady in sincere devotional practice and integrity (dharma); the verse highlights that unwavering devotion makes one spiritually unshakable even amid external opposition.