Shloka 16

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

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

• mene: considered/thought
• mene: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); आत्मनेपद

• ati-durlabham: extremely rare
• ati-durlabham: Karma (कर्म/Object-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण of ‘sarvam/tat’

• puṁsām: of men
• puṁsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarvam: all (this)
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to ‘sarvam’

• svapna-saṁstutam: praised/valued like a dream
• svapna-saṁstutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक) + saṁstuta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘svapne saṁstutam’/‘svapnasya saṁstutam’—praised/valued like a dream; विशेषण of ‘sarvam/tat’

• vidvān: the wise man
• vidvān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक; √vid कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘the wise one’ (subject)

• vibhava-nirvāṇam: the vanishing of opulence
• vibhava-nirvāṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object—understood as what is known/seen)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhava (प्रातिपदिक) + nirvāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘vibhavasya nirvāṇam’ (cessation of opulence/its fading)

• tamaḥ: darkness
• tamaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• viśati: enters
• viśati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: viś (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• yat: when/that
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Clause linker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative particle used as conjunction (यत्-सम्बन्धक-अव्यय), ‘when/that which’

• pumān: a man
• pumān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), 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 Mahārāja
• Śukadeva Gosvāmī

FAQs

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

This verse shows that even vast sovereignty and inexhaustible prosperity can come to a devotee, yet such gifts are presented as external—meant to be used in service rather than for pride.

Why is Ambarisha Maharaja described as ‘mahā-bhāga’ (greatly fortunate)?

Because he was blessed with extraordinary worldly resources—rule over the earth and great opulence—which, in the narrative, become instruments for devotion and righteousness.

Practical application: How should spiritual people handle success and influence today?

Treat success as a responsibility: use resources ethically, support dharma, and keep devotion central rather than letting status become the goal.