Shloka 37

Devanagari script

इति सायन्तनीं सन्ध्यामसुरा: प्रमदायतीम् । प्रलोभयन्तीं जगृहुर्मत्वा मूढधिय: स्त्रियम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

iti sāyantanīṁ sandhyām asurāḥ pramadāyatīm pralobhayantīṁ jagṛhur matvā mūḍha-dhiyaḥ striyam

Translation

Thus the asuras, their understanding clouded, mistook the evening twilight—appearing in an alluring feminine form—for a woman, and they seized her.

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• सायन्तनीम्: evening
• सायन्तनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सायन्तनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘सन्ध्याम्’)

• सन्ध्याम्: Sandhyā (twilight)
• सन्ध्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• असुराः: the demons
• असुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रमदायतीम्: acting as a charming woman
• प्रमदायतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रमदा-यत् (धातु/नामधातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present middle participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘behaving like a lovely woman’

• प्रलोभयन्तीम्: alluring
• प्रलोभयन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-लुभ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘सन्ध्याम्’)

• जगृहुः: they seized
• जगृहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मत्वा: having thought
• मत्वा: Purva-kala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having thought/considered’

• मूढ-धियः: the deluded-minded
• मूढ-धियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूढ (प्रातिपदिक) + धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘मूढा धिः यस्य’ (one whose intellect is deluded); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्त्रियम्: a woman
• स्त्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Purport

The asuras are described here as mūḍha-dhiyaḥ, meaning that they are captivated by ignorance, just like the ass. The demons were captivated by the false, glaring beauty of this material form, and thus they embraced her.

Characters & Entities

• Asuras
• Sandhyā (evening twilight)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about delusion caused by lust and attraction?

This verse shows the asuras becoming mūḍha-dhī (bewildered) and mistaking twilight for a woman, illustrating how unchecked attraction can distort perception and lead to impulsive, degrading acts.

Who are the asuras in Canto 3, and why did they seize Sandhyā?

In the creation narrative, certain demoniac beings arise with lower tendencies; seeing Sandhyā (evening twilight) alluringly manifest, they misidentify her as a woman and try to possess her, revealing their ignorance and passion.

Practical application: what is the modern-life takeaway from this shloka?

Guard the senses and mind: when desire intensifies, judgment weakens. Practicing restraint, prayer, and disciplined habits helps prevent misperception and harmful choices.