Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 6

Portents at the Birth of Diti’s Sons and Hiraṇyākṣa Challenges Varuṇa

Devanagari script

उद्धसत्तडिदम्भोदघटया नष्टभागणे । व्योम्नि प्रविष्टतमसा न स्म व्याद‍ृश्यते पदम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

uddhasat-taḍid-ambhoda- ghaṭayā naṣṭa-bhāgaṇe vyomni praviṣṭa-tamasā na sma vyādṛśyate padam

Translation

The luminaries of heaven were veiled by dense masses of cloud, where lightning flashed at times as though laughing. Darkness reigned everywhere, and nothing could be seen.

Synonyms

• uddhasat: flashing
• uddhasat: Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa (करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud + √dhas (धातु)
• Form: भूत/वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle) शतृ; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग-समन्वयः—यहाँ ghaṭayā (instr. sg. f.) के साथ विशेषणरूपेण (agreeing in sense: ‘flashing’)

• taḍit: lightning
• taḍit: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taḍit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन in compound-member (stem form)

• ambhoda: cloud
• ambhoda: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambhoda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन in compound-member (stem form)

• ghaṭayā: by a mass/cluster
• ghaṭayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghaṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by/with a mass’

• naṣṭa-bhāgaṇe: in the sky where the stars were obscured
• naṣṭa-bhāgaṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naṣṭa (√naś, धातु; कृदन्त) + bhāgaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (7th case, locative), एकवचन; विशेषण of vyomni; कर्मधारय (‘lost’ + ‘stars/constellations’)

• vyomni: in the sky
• vyomni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyoman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• praviṣṭa-tamasā: by the spreading darkness
• praviṣṭa-tamasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praviṣṭa (pra+√viś, धातु; कृदन्त) + tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/समासार्थः—‘by darkness that had entered/spread’; karaṇa

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• sma: indeed/then
• sma: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपातः; भूतार्थ/अनुस्मरणार्थक (emphatic particle, often with past narration)

• vyādṛśyate: was seen/appeared
• vyādṛśyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + ā + √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

• padam: a trace/footing
• padam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as subject of passive (‘a trace/footing was not seen’)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about darkness and omens in Canto 3?

This verse describes terrifying cosmic signs—lightning, roaring clouds, vanishing stars, and spreading darkness—symbolizing disorder and fear as destructive forces rise.

Why is the sky described as losing all visible direction in this verse?

The narrative portrays tamas (overpowering darkness) covering the heavens so completely that even the “path” or sense of direction disappears, emphasizing universal confusion during upheaval.

Practical application of this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

When life feels clouded and directionless, this verse reminds a devotee to seek steadiness through dharma and remembrance of the Lord, rather than being swept away by fear and chaos.