Shloka 28

Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation

Devanagari script

देहोऽयं मानुषो राजन् पुरुषस्याखिलार्थद: । तस्मादस्य वधो वीर सर्वार्थवध उच्यते ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

deho ’yaṁ mānuṣo rājan puruṣasyākhilārthadaḥ tasmād asya vadho vīra sarvārtha-vadha ucyate

Translation

O King, O hero, this human body is meant to bestow all the higher aims of life; therefore to destroy it before its time is said to be the destruction of all the benefits of human existence.

Synonyms

• dehaḥ: body
• dehaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• mānuṣaḥ: human
• mānuṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• puruṣasya: of a person
• puruṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• akhila-arthadaḥ: giver of all aims/benefits
• akhila-arthadaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + da (√dā धातु, क्विप्/प्रातिपदिक-रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘akhilān arthān dadāti’

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tasmāt (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘therefore/from that’

• asya: of this/of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• vadhaḥ: killing
• vadhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• sarvārtha-vadhaḥ: destruction of all aims
• sarvārtha-vadhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘sarveṣām arthānāṁ vadhaḥ’

• ucyate: is said/called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

Purport

Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has sung:

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the value of the human body?

This verse states that the human body is uniquely capable of granting all life’s aims—including spiritual realization—so harming it is treated as ruining one’s greatest opportunity.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī say this to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva instructs Parīkṣit on the sacred purpose of human life, emphasizing that one should protect and properly use this rare human birth for higher goals, especially devotion and liberation.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Treat your life and health as spiritual assets: avoid self-destructive habits, cultivate sādhana (hearing/chanting), and make choices that support dharma and bhakti rather than wasting this rare opportunity.