Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 13

Rāhu, Eclipses, Antarikṣa, and the Seven Subterranean Heavens

Bila-svarga

Devanagari script

न वा एतेषु वसतां दिव्यौषधिरसरसायनान्नपानस्‍नानादिभिराधयो व्याधयो वलीपलितजरादयश्च देहवैवर्ण्यदौर्गन्ध्यस्वेदक्लमग्लानिरिति वयोऽवस्थाश्च भवन्ति ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

na vā eteṣu vasatāṁ divyauṣadhi-rasa-rasāyanānna-pāna-snānādibhir ādhayo vyādhayo valī-palita-jarādayaś ca deha-vaivarṇya-daurgandhya-sveda-klama-glānir iti vayo ’vasthāś ca bhavanti.

Translation

Because the residents of those realms drink and bathe in nectarean juices and elixirs made from wondrous herbs, they are free from all anxiety and disease. They know no grey hair, wrinkles, or infirmity; their bodily luster does not fade, their perspiration bears no foul odor, and they are not troubled by fatigue or loss of vigor due to old age.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• vā: indeed/at all
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), alternative/emphasis ‘or/indeed’ (वा)

• eteṣu: among/in these
• eteṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन); pronominal ‘in these (people/regions)’

• vasatām: of those who dwell
• vasatām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vas (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान-कृदन्त), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘of those dwelling’

• divya-auṣadhi-rasa-rasāyana-anna-pāna-snānādibhiḥ: by divine herbs, juices, elixirs, food, drink, baths, etc.
• divya-auṣadhi-rasa-rasāyana-anna-pāna-snānādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक) + auṣadhi (प्रातिपदिक) + rasa (प्रातिपदिक) + rasāyana (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक) + pāna (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Instrumental plural (तृतीया/3, बहुवचन); samāhāra-dvandva list with ādi; means ‘by/through divine herbs, juices, elixirs, food, drink, baths, etc.’

• ādhayaḥ: mental afflictions
• ādhayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vyādhayaḥ: diseases
• vyādhayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyādhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• valī-palita-jarā-ādayaḥ: wrinkles, grey hair, old age, etc.
• valī-palita-jarā-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: valī (प्रातिपदिक) + palita (प्रातिपदिक) + jarā (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); itaretara-dvandva list ‘wrinkles, grey hair, old age, etc.’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• deha-vaivarṇya-daurgandhya-sveda-klama-glāniḥ: bodily discoloration, foul smell, sweating, fatigue, languor (as a set)
• deha-vaivarṇya-daurgandhya-sveda-klama-glāniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक) + vaivarṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + daurgandhya (प्रातिपदिक) + sveda (प्रातिपदिक) + klama (प्रातिपदिक) + glāni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन) as a collective; samāhāra-dvandva enumerating bodily discoloration, bad smell, sweat, fatigue, languor

• iti: thus/namely
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात) marking enumeration

• vayaḥ-avasthāḥ: conditions of aging
• vayaḥ-avasthāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vayas (प्रातिपदिक) + avasthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘states/conditions of age’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• bhavanti: occur/are present
• bhavanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about freedom from disease and old age in the lower planetary systems?

In Bhagavatam 5.24.13, Śukadeva explains that residents of those regions, due to celestial herbs, elixirs, and luxurious provisions, do not suffer mental distress, disease, or the usual symptoms of aging like wrinkles, gray hair, fatigue, and bodily deterioration.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe such pleasures to Mahārāja Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva is narrating the universe’s structure and the varied karmic destinations within it; by describing even extraordinary material comforts, he helps Parīkṣit understand that such enjoyments are still within saṁsāra and are not the ultimate goal compared to pure bhakti.

Practical application: What should a devotee learn from this verse about health, longevity, and spiritual life?

Even if one gains comfort, health, or long life through rare advantages, these remain temporary material conditions; the verse encourages seekers to prioritize devotion to the Lord over chasing bodily perfection.