Shloka 15

Purukutsa’s Rasātala Victory; Triśaṅku and Hariścandra; Rohita and Śunaḥśepha

Devanagari script

इति पुत्रानुरागेण स्‍नेहयन्त्रितचेतसा । कालं वञ्चयता तं तमुक्तो देवस्तमैक्षत ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

iti putrānurāgeṇa sneha-yantrita-cetasā kālaṁ vañcayatā taṁ tam ukto devas tam aikṣata

Translation

Out of deep attachment to his son, Hariścandra—his heart bound by affection—begged the deva Varuṇa to postpone the appointed time; thus Varuṇa waited, and waited again, for the hour to arrive.

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• पुत्र-अनुरागेण: by affection for (his) son
• पुत्र-अनुरागेण: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (करण) एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पुत्रे अनुरागः)

• स्नेह-यन्त्रित-चेतसा: with mind constrained by affection
• स्नेह-यन्त्रित-चेतसा: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक) + यन्त्रित (कृदन्त; √यन्त्र्/यम्) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (चेतस्); तृतीया एकवचन; समासः (स्नेहेन यन्त्रितं चेतः यस्य/येन) — बहुधा कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुषभावः; विशेषणम्

• कालम्: time
• कालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन

• वञ्चयता: by (him) cheating/deluding
• वञ्चयता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वञ्च् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय); तृतीया एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भव; ‘वञ्चयन्’ = cheating/deluding

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तम्: that very (one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• उक्तः: having been spoken to / addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः ‘having been told/addressed’

• देवः: the god (Varuṇa)
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन

• ऐक्षत: looked at / observed
• ऐक्षत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Deva (a demigod)
• Putra (son)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about trying to cheat time (kāla)?

This verse highlights that when one tries to outwit time out of attachment, the attempt is driven by a mind bound by affection—implying that kāla cannot truly be overcome by worldly strategy, but by higher spiritual alignment.

Why does the Bhagavatam describe the mind as ‘bound by affection’ (sneha-yantrita-cetasā)?

Because intense attachment—especially to one’s child—can control decision-making like a mechanism, leading a person to act against wiser principles, even attempting impossible things like evading the force of time.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Care for family with responsibility, but avoid letting attachment override dharma and spiritual priorities; remember that time is unstoppable, so invest in lasting values—devotion, character, and service.