Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

यो रातो देवयजने देवैर्गाधिषु तापस: । देवरात इति ख्यात: शुन:शेफस्तु भार्गव: ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

yo rāto deva-yajane devair gādhiṣu tāpasaḥ deva-rāta iti khyātaḥ śunaḥśephas tu bhārgavaḥ

Translation

Bien que Śunaḥśepha fût né dans la lignée Bhārgava, il était très avancé dans la vie spirituelle; aussi les devas du sacrifice le protégèrent. Ainsi fut-il célébré sous le nom de Devarāta, descendant de Gādhi.

Synonyms

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचकः

• rātaḥ: given (as a gift)
• rātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (धातु) → rāta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘given/bestowed’

• deva-yajane: in the gods’ sacrifice/ritual
• deva-yajane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña/yajana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषभावः—देवानां यजनम् (in the worship/sacrifice to the gods)

• devaiḥ: by the gods
• devaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• gādhiṣu: among the Gādhis
• gādhiṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gādhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; कुल/वंश-निर्देशे (among the Gādhis / in Gādhi’s line)

• tāpasaḥ: the ascetic
• tāpasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to yaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāpasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ascetic’

• deva-rātaḥ: Devarāta
• deva-rātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + rāta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—देवैः राता/देवेन राता (given by the gods) (proper name)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-निपात (quotative particle)

• khyātaḥ: was known (as)
• khyātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √khyā (धातु) → khyāta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘known/called’

• śunaḥśephaḥ: Śunaḥśepha
• śunaḥśephaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śunaḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + śepha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (proper name)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-निपात (adversative/emphatic particle)

• bhārgavaḥ: a Bhārgava (descendant of Bhṛgu)
• bhārgavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गोत्र/वंश-नाम (descendant of Bhṛgu)

Characters & Entities

• Śunaḥśepha
• Gādhi
• Devas (demigods)
• Bhṛgu

FAQs

Who is Devarāta in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Devarāta is the name by which Śunaḥśepha became known among Gādhi’s line, because he was ‘given to the gods’ at a demigod-sacrifice.

Why is Śunaḥśepha called Devarāta?

This verse explains the etymology: he was offered/given in connection with a deva-yajña (sacrifice for the demigods), so he was famed as Devarāta—‘gift to the gods.’

What practical lesson does this verse teach about identity and dharma?

It shows how one’s name and social identity can be shaped by dharmic events and sacred duties, reminding devotees to ground identity in service and higher purpose rather than mere birth.