Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 39

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

False Renunciation Exposed

Devanagari script

मैत्रेय उवाच इत्थं स लोकगुरुणा समादिष्टो विशाम्पति: । तथा च कृत्वा वात्सल्यं मघोनापि च सन्दधे ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

maitreya uvāca itthaṁ sa loka-guruṇā samādiṣṭo viśāmpatiḥ tathā ca kṛtvā vātsalyaṁ maghonāpi ca sandadhe

Translation

Maitreya dit : Ainsi conseillé par le maître du monde, Brahmā, le roi Pṛthu renonça à son ardeur pour les yajñas et, avec affection, conclut la paix avec Indra (Maghavā).

Synonyms

• maitreyaḥ: Maitreya
• maitreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maitreya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ittham: thus
• ittham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• loka-guruṇā: by the teacher of the world
• loka-guruṇā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘लोकस्य गुरुः’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• samādiṣṭaḥ: instructed/ordered
• samādiṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+ā+√diś (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सः’ इति विशेषणम्

• viśām-patiḥ: lord of the people (king)
• viśām-patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viś (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘विशां पतिः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि/विशेषणरूपेण ‘सः’

• tathā: accordingly
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/अनुसरणवाचक (thus/accordingly)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• vātsalyam: affection
• vātsalyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vātsalya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• maghonā: by Maghavan (Indra)
• maghonā: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (सहकारी/Instrumental agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maghavan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; इन्द्रस्य नाम (Indra)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-निपात (also/even)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• sandadhe: made/established; formed (an alliance)
• sandadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam+√dhā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Brahmā
• Pṛthu
• Indra (Maghavā/Maghonā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about making peace with rivals?

This verse shows that under higher spiritual guidance, a righteous ruler prioritizes harmony over hostility—Pṛthu, acting with vātsalya (benevolent affection), reconciles even with Indra.

Why did Pṛthu Mahārāja reconcile with Indra in Canto 4?

After being instructed by Brahmā (the lokaguru), Pṛthu followed the divine counsel and restored peace, demonstrating ideal kingship guided by dharma rather than ego.

How can the teaching of vātsalya (fatherly affection) be applied in modern life?

Lead with protective kindness and restraint—especially in conflict—seeking resolution through guidance, empathy, and the larger good rather than winning arguments.