Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

तस्मै तुष्टो ददाविन्द्र: शातकौम्भमयं रथम् । शुन:शेफस्य माहात्म्यमुपरिष्टात् प्रचक्ष्यते ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

tasmai tuṣṭo dadāv indraḥ śātakaumbhamayaṁ ratham śunaḥśephasya māhātmyam upariṣṭāt pracakṣyate

Translation

Indra, greatly pleased with Hariścandra, bestowed upon him a chariot of pure gold (śātakaumbha). The glories of Śunaḥśepha will be described later, along with the account of Viśvāmitra’s son.

Synonyms

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• तुष्टः: pleased
• तुष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √तुष् से क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘pleased’ (qualifies इन्द्रः)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘gave’

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शातकौम्भमयम्: made of śātakaumbha-gold
• शातकौम्भमयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शातकौम्भ-मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: शातकौम्भस्य मयः (material/‘made of’)

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुनःशेफस्य: of Śunaḥśepha
• शुनःशेफस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुनःशेफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• माहात्म्यम्: glory, greatness
• माहात्म्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; subject of ‘प्रचक्ष्यते’

• उपरिष्टात्: later
• उपरिष्टात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरिष्टात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (later/above)

• प्रचक्ष्यते: will be narrated
• प्रचक्ष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘will be described’ (passive/impersonal sense)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Śunaḥśepha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about receiving blessings from Indra or the devas?

This verse shows that when one is pleased (tuṣṭa), Indra may grant tangible rewards—here, a golden chariot—yet the Bhāgavatam emphasizes the deeper spiritual “māhātmya” behind such events.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention Śunaḥśepha’s greatness will be described later?

Śukadeva signals that the narrative has further spiritual significance beyond the immediate reward, and that Śunaḥśepha’s glory (māhātmya) will be elaborated in a later section for fuller understanding.

What is a practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Do your duty with sincerity and faith: recognition or “rewards” may come, but the Bhāgavatam points us to value lasting spiritual character and devotion over temporary gains.