Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 21

Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention

False Renunciation Exposed

Devanagari script

अत्रिणा चोदितस्तस्मै सन्दधे विशिखं रुषा । सोऽश्वं रूपं च तद्धित्वा तस्थावन्तर्हित: स्वराट् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

atriṇā coditas tasmai sandadhe viśikhaṁ ruṣā so ’śvaṁ rūpaṁ ca tad dhitvā tasthāv antarhitaḥ svarāṭ

Translation

Lorsque le sage Atri donna de nouveau ses directives, le fils de Pṛthu, saisi de colère, ajusta une flèche sur son arc. Voyant cela, Indra abandonna aussitôt le faux habit de sannyāsī, laissa le cheval et le roi du ciel devint invisible.

Synonyms

• अत्रिणा: by Atri
• अत्रिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• चोदितः: urged, prompted
• चोदितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चोदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √चुद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सन्दधे: he fixed/placed/aimed
• सन्दधे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• विशिखम्: an arrow
• विशिखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशिख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• रुषा: with anger
• रुषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुष्/रुषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अश्वम्: the horse
• अश्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हित्वा: having abandoned
• हित्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• तस्थौ: stood
• तस्थौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अन्तर्हितः: hidden
• अन्तर्हितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्हित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अन्तर् + √धा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त

• स्वराट्: the independent ruler
• स्वराट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वराट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Atri
• Svarāṭ (the independent being, i.e., Indra in disguise)

FAQs

Why did the person become invisible after being targeted with an arrow in Bhagavatam 4.19.21?

Because he was an independent celestial being acting through illusion; after abandoning the horse-disguise, he concealed himself (antarhitaḥ), avoiding direct confrontation.

Who is the 'svarāṭ' mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.19.21?

Svarāṭ means “fully independent”; in this episode it indicates the powerful deva (Indra) who was interfering by taking the sacrificial horse through disguise and mystic power.

What practical lesson does Bhagavatam 4.19.21 teach for modern life?

It highlights how ego-driven competition creates conflict and how deceptive appearances can vanish quickly—encouraging steadiness in dharma and humility rather than reactive anger.