Shloka 15

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच अम्बरीषो महाभाग: सप्तद्वीपवतीं महीम् । अव्ययां च श्रियं लब्ध्वा विभवं चातुलं भुवि ॥ १५ ॥ मेनेऽतिदुर्लभं पुंसां सर्वं तत् स्वप्नसंस्तुतम् । विद्वान् विभवनिर्वाणं तमो विशति यत् पुमान् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca ambarīṣo mahā-bhāgaḥ sapta-dvīpavatīṁ mahīm avyayāṁ ca śriyaṁ labdhvā vibhavaṁ cātulaṁ bhuvi

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The greatly fortunate Mahārāja Ambarīṣa attained sovereignty over the earth of seven islands and inexhaustible, unlimited opulence. Yet, knowing all such splendor to be merely material—like a dream that must fade—he cared nothing for it, understanding that the nondevotee who gains such wealth sinks ever deeper into the darkness of material nature.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘śrī’ honorific prefix

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• ambarīṣaḥ: Ambarīṣa
• ambarīṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambarīṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-bhāgaḥ: greatly fortunate
• mahā-bhāgaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण of ‘ambarīṣaḥ’

• sapta-dvīpavatīm: having seven continents
• sapta-dvīpavatīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + dvīpavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण of ‘mahīm’

• mahīm: the earth
• mahīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• avyayām: imperishable
• avyayām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण of ‘śriyam’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• śriyam: prosperity/fortune
• śriyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• labdhvā: having obtained
• labdhvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having obtained’

• vibhavam: opulence/power
• vibhavam: Karma (कर्म/Object—also obtained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• atulam: incomparable
• atulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: atula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण of ‘vibhavam’

• bhuvi: on earth
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

Purport

For a devotee material opulence is insignificant, whereas for a nondevotee material opulence is the cause of increasing bondage, for a devotee knows that anything material is temporary, whereas a nondevotee regards the temporary so-called happiness as everything and forgets the path of self-realization. Thus for the nondevotee material opulence is a disqualification for spiritual advancement.

Characters & Entities

• Ambarīṣa
• Śukadeva Gosvāmī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about a devotee possessing great wealth and power?

This verse states that Mahārāja Ambarīṣa attained vast dominion and inexhaustible prosperity, illustrating that great material resources can come to a devotee—yet in the narrative they are not the devotee’s ultimate aim.

Who is speaking in Bhagavatam 9.4.15 and to whom is he narrating?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is speaking, narrating the life and glories of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa to King Parīkṣit.

How can I apply Bhagavatam 9.4.15 in modern life if I have success or influence?

See success as a responsibility and a tool for dharma and devotion—use resources in service, remain humble, and remember that prosperity is not the final goal.