Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 15

Aditi’s Payo-vrata and Viṣṇu’s Promise to Appear as Her Son

Prelude to Vāmana

Devanagari script

आत्मजान्सुसमृद्धांस्त्वं प्रत्याहृतयश:श्रिय: । नाकपृष्ठमधिष्ठाय क्रीडतो द्रष्टुमिच्छसि ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

ātmajān susamṛddhāṁs tvaṁ pratyāhṛta-yaśaḥ-śriyaḥ nāka-pṛṣṭham adhiṣṭhāya krīḍato draṣṭum icchasi

Translation

Tu veux que tes fils retrouvent leur renommée et leur opulence perdues et, rétablis au ciel, vivent de nouveau comme auparavant, dans la joie et le jeu.

Synonyms

• ātma-jān: (your) own sons
• ātma-jān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātma-ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: ātman (self) + ja (born) = 'one's own sons'

• su-samṛddhān: very prosperous
• su-samṛddhān: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-samṛddha (प्रातिपदिक; from sam-ṛdh (धातु)+क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa: su (well) + samṛddha (prosperous)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• pratyāhṛta-yaśaḥ-śriyaḥ: having regained fame and fortune
• pratyāhṛta-yaśaḥ-śriyaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratyāhṛta-yaśas-śrī (प्रातिपदिक; pratyāhṛta from prati-ā-hṛ (धातु)+क्त; yaśas (प्रातिपदिक); śrī (प्रातिपदिक))
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); compound qualifying ātmajān: 'whose fame and fortune have been regained'

• nāka-pṛṣṭham: the heavenly realm
• nāka-pṛṣṭham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāka-pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: nāka (heaven) + pṛṣṭha (surface/back)

• adhiṣṭhāya: having occupied/established (there)
• adhiṣṭhāya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: adhi-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), indeclinable (अव्यय)

• krīḍataḥ: sporting/playing
• krīḍataḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: krīḍ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with ātmajān

• draṣṭum: to see
• draṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), indeclinable verbal (अव्ययकृदन्त)

• icchasi: you wish
• icchasi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Aditi
• Kashyapa Muni
• Adityas (sons of Aditi)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about restoring lost honor and fortune?

This verse shows Aditi’s longing for her sons’ lost fame and prosperity to be restored, implying that reversals of fortune can be remedied through divine arrangement rather than mere worldly effort.

Why did Kashyapa Muni say this to Aditi in Canto 8 Chapter 17?

Kashyapa is addressing Aditi’s grief over the Adityas’ defeat and clarifying her heartfelt desire—seeing her sons regain heavenly status—before guiding her toward the spiritual means to attain it.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam verse in modern life when facing setbacks?

Recognize the desire to regain stability and dignity, but seek restoration through dharmic action, prayer, and dependence on the Lord’s will rather than anxiety-driven or unethical shortcuts.