Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 5

Diti’s Puṁsavana Vow, Indra’s Intervention, and the Birth of the Maruts

Devanagari script

वाल्मीकिश्च महायोगी वल्मीकादभवत्किल । अगस्त्यश्च वसिष्ठश्च मित्रावरुणयोऋर्षी ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

vālmīkiś ca mahā-yogī valmīkād abhavat kila agastyaś ca vasiṣṭhaś ca mitrā-varuṇayor ṛṣī

Translation

It is said that by Varuṇa’s semen the great mystic Vālmīki was born from an anthill (valmīka). Bhṛgu and Vālmīki were Varuṇa’s particular sons, whereas the ṛṣis Agastya and Vasiṣṭha were the common sons of Mitra and Varuṇa.

Synonyms

• वाल्मीकिḥ: Vālmīki
• वाल्मीकिḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाल्मीकि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महायोगी: a great yogī
• महायोगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• वल्मीकात्: from an anthill
• वल्मीकात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल्मीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अभवत्: became/was born
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• किल: indeed/it is said
• किल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), प्रसिद्ध्यर्थ/श्रुत्यर्थ (indeed/it is said)

• अगस्त्यः: Agastya
• अगस्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मित्रावरुणयोः: of Mitra and Varuṇa
• मित्रावरुणयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र + वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• ऋषी: (were) the two sages
• ऋषी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

Characters & Entities

• Vālmīki
• Agastya
• Vasiṣṭha
• Mitra
• Varuṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the birth of Vālmīki?

This verse states that Vālmīki, renowned as a great yogī, is traditionally said to have manifested from an anthill (valmīka), highlighting the wondrous, destiny-driven nature of saintly appearance.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention the unusual births of sages like Agastya and Vasiṣṭha here?

In the flow of the Diti–Indra account, Śukadeva emphasizes that extraordinary beings can appear through extraordinary circumstances—underscoring that divine arrangement can surpass ordinary biological expectations.

What is a practical takeaway from this shloka for modern life?

Do not judge spiritual potential by external origins; the Bhagavatam reminds us that greatness and sanctity can arise from unexpected backgrounds when guided by higher purpose and tapas (discipline).