Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 5

Dadhīci’s Supreme Charity and the Opening of Indra’s War with Vṛtrāsura

Devanagari script

श्रीदेवा ऊचु: किं नु तद् दुस्त्यजं ब्रह्मन् पुंसां भूतानुकम्पिनाम् । भवद्विधानां महतां पुण्यश्लोकेड्यकर्मणाम् ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-devā ūcuḥ kiṁ nu tad dustyajaṁ brahman puṁsāṁ bhūtānukampinām bhavad-vidhānāṁ mahatāṁ puṇya-ślokeḍya-karmaṇām

Translation

The demigods replied: O exalted brāhmaṇa, great souls like you—whose deeds are praised in holy fame and who are compassionate to all beings—what could be too difficult for you to give up for others’ welfare?

Synonyms

• श्रीदेवाः: the glorious gods
• श्रीदेवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (śrīmatāḥ devāḥ = 'glorious gods')

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• नु: indeed/then (question particle)
• नु: Sambandha (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न/अनुनयार्थक-निपात (interrogative particle)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेष्य-सूचक

• दुस्त्यजम्: hard to abandon
• दुस्त्यजम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुस् + त्यज्य (प्रातिपदिक; √त्यज् धातोः)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (gerundive sense: 'hard to give up')

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• पुंसाम्: of men/persons
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• भूतानुकम्पिनाम्: of those compassionate to beings
• भूतानुकम्पिनाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत + अनुकम्पिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (bhūtānām anukampinaḥ = 'compassionate to beings'); विशेषणम् भवद्विधानाम्/महताम्

• भवद्विधानाम्: of those like you
• भवद्विधानाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भवत् + विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (bhavat-vidhāḥ = 'like you'); विशेषणम् महताम्

• महताम्: of the great
• महताम्: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; 'of the great ones'

• पुण्यश्लोक-ईड्य-कर्मणाम्: whose deeds are praiseworthy and of holy fame
• पुण्यश्लोक-ईड्य-कर्मणाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य + श्लोक + ईड्य + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (pūṇya-śloka = 'of holy fame'; īḍya = 'praiseworthy'; karmaṇām = 'of deeds'); विशेषणम् महताम्

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 6.10.5 say about the qualities of great souls?

It highlights compassion toward all beings and praiseworthy conduct—such saintly persons are naturally able to renounce what others find hard to give up.

Why do the Devas address the sage as 'O brāhmaṇa' in this verse?

They honor the spiritual authority and purity associated with a true brāhmaṇa, implying that such a person embodies compassion and exemplary, glorifiable actions.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Practice compassion and ethical restraint; when guided by higher values, giving up ego-driven attachments becomes easier and one’s actions become worthy of respect.