Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 23

Arjuna’s Lament, the End of the Yadus, and the Pāṇḍavas’ Departure

Devanagari script

राजंस्त्वयानुपृष्टानां सुहृदां न: सुहृत्पुरे । विप्रशापविमूढानां निघ्नतां मुष्टिभिर्मिथ: ॥ २२ ॥ वारुणीं मदिरां पीत्वा मदोन्मथितचेतसाम् । अजानतामिवान्योन्यं चतु:पञ्चावशेषिता: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

rājaṁs tvayānupṛṣṭānāṁ suhṛdāṁ naḥ suhṛt-pure vipra-śāpa-vimūḍhānāṁ nighnatāṁ muṣṭibhir mithaḥ

Translation

O King, since you ask about our friends and kinsmen in Dvārakā, I shall tell you: bewildered by the curse of the brāhmaṇas, they drank Vāruṇī liquor brewed from spoiled rice, and their minds, shaken by intoxication, made them strike one another with clubs as if they did not recognize each other. Now only four or five remain.

Synonyms

• vāruṇīm: Vāruṇī liquor
• vāruṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāruṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• madirām: wine
• madirām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madirā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• pītvā: having drunk
• pītvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय/ल्यबन्त), ‘having drunk’

• mada-unmathita-cetasām: of those whose minds were maddened by intoxication
• mada-unmathita-cetasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mada (प्रातिपदिक) + unmathita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound ‘whose minds were agitated by intoxication’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ajānatām: of those unaware
• ajānatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) with privative a-; Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural — ‘of those not knowing’

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमावाचक-अव्यय)

• anyonyam: each other
• anyonyam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Reciprocal adverb used as avyaya (परस्परवाचक-अव्यय)

• catuḥ-pañca-avaśeṣitāḥ: (only) four or five remained
• catuḥ-pañca-avaśeṣitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + avaśeṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu (द्विगु) numeric compound ‘four or five remaining’; Past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja
• Yādavas
• Brāhmaṇas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Yadavas’ destruction?

It states that the Yadavas, bewildered by a brāhmaṇa’s curse, ended up striking and killing one another in Dvārakā.

Why did Nārada Muni tell this to King Yudhiṣṭhira?

Yudhiṣṭhira asked about the fate of his well-wishers in Dvārakā, and Nārada revealed the tragic outcome to prepare him for renunciation.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Guard against offenses and arrogance—when judgment is clouded, even close communities can self-destruct through mutual conflict.