Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 3

Paraśurāma Avenges Jamadagni; Restoration Through Sacrifice; Viśvāmitra’s Line and Devarāta (Śunaḥśepha)

Devanagari script

विलोकयन्ती क्रीडन्तमुदकार्थं नदीं गता । होमवेलां न सस्मार किञ्चिच्चित्ररथस्पृहा ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

vilokayantī krīḍantam udakārthaṁ nadīṁ gatā homa-velāṁ na sasmāra kiñcic citraratha-spṛhā

Translation

Elle était allée au fleuve pour puiser de l’eau, mais en regardant Citraratha s’ébattre, elle éprouva une légère attirance et oublia que l’heure du homa, le sacrifice au feu, s’écoulait.

Synonyms

• विलोकयन्ती: looking at (him)
• विलोकयन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-लोक् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण (of रेणुका)

• क्रीडन्तम्: playing
• क्रीडन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण (object)

• उदक-अर्थम्: for water
• उदक-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (उदकस्य अर्थः = for water/purpose of water)

• नदीम्: to the river
• नदीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गन्तव्य (destination)

• गता: went
• गता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि ‘gone’

• होमवेलाम्: the time for the homa (ritual)
• होमवेलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम + वेला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (होमस्य वेला)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• सस्मार: remembered
• सस्मार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• किञ्चित्: at all / even a little
• किञ्चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय (indeclinable usage); अल्पपरिमाणवाचक (somewhat/at all)

• चित्ररथस्पृहा: desiring Citraratha
• चित्ररथस्पृहा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्ररथ + स्पृहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चित्ररथस्य स्पृहा) ‘having desire for Citraratha’; विशेषण (of रेणुका)

Characters & Entities

• Citraratha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how attachment affects dharma?

This verse shows that intense longing (spṛhā) can overpower memory and duty—so much so that one forgets even the scheduled time for sacred acts like homa.

Why did she forget the homa time in this verse?

Because her mind was absorbed in attraction and longing for Citraratha, she became distracted while watching play and lost awareness of her prescribed ritual duty.

Practical application: how can a devotee avoid distraction in modern life?

By noticing when the mind becomes absorbed in craving, and returning it to fixed commitments—daily sādhana, timely duties, and remembrance of the Lord—before distraction becomes forgetfulness.