Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 4

Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire

Devanagari script

चतसृष्वादिशद् दिक्षु भ्रातृन् भ्राता यवीयस: । कृतदारो जुगोपोर्वीं काव्यस्य वृषपर्वण: ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

catasṛṣv ādiśad dikṣu bhrātṝn bhrātā yavīyasaḥ kṛta-dāro jugoporvīṁ kāvyasya vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ

Translation

Yayāti confia à ses quatre frères cadets la souveraineté des quatre directions; lui-même épousa Devayānī, fille de Śukrācārya, et Śarmiṣṭhā, fille de Vṛṣaparvā, et régna sur toute la terre.

Synonyms

• चतसृषु: in the four
• चतसृषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; 'दिक्षु' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आदिशत्: assigned/appointed
• आदिशत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दिś् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• भ्रातॄन्: brothers
• भ्रातॄन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• भ्राता: the brother
• भ्राता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• यवीयसः: of the younger (brother)
• यवीयसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यवीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; 'भ्राता' इत्यस्य सम्बन्धः (of the younger [brother])

• कृत-दारः: having taken a wife (married)
• कृत-दारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु + क्त) + दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'भ्राता' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• जुगोप: protected
• जुगोप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• उर्वीम्: the earth/land
• उर्वीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उर्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• काव्यस्य: of Kāvya (Śukrācārya)
• काव्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• वृषपर्वणः: of Vṛṣaparvan
• वृषपर्वणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषपर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kāvya (Śukrācārya)
• Vṛṣaparvā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about rāja-dharma (the duty of a king) in Canto 9?

This verse highlights rāja-dharma as organized leadership—assigning responsibility and protecting the earth—showing that governance is meant for protection and order, not exploitation.

Who is Kāvya in the Bhagavatam, and why is he mentioned here?

Kāvya refers to Śukrācārya, the preceptor of the Daityas. He is mentioned because the ruler in this verse protects the earth under the authority or interest of Śukrācārya and King Vṛṣaparvā.

Practical application of this shloka’s lesson in modern life?

Delegate duties responsibly, respect qualified guidance, and see leadership as protection and service—whether in family, work, or community.