Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

सप्तद्वीपपति: सम्यक् पितृवत् पालयन् प्रजा: । यथोपजोषं विषयाञ्जुजुषेऽव्याहतेन्द्रिय: ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

sapta-dvīpa-patiḥ saṁyak pitṛvat pālayan prajāḥ yathopajoṣaṁ viṣayāñ jujuṣe ’vyāhatendriyaḥ

Translation

Par la suite, le roi Yayāti devint le souverain du monde entier, composé de sept îles, et gouverna les citoyens exactement comme un père. Parce qu'il avait pris la jeunesse de son fils, ses sens étaient intacts et il jouissait du bonheur matériel autant qu'il le désirait.

Synonyms

• सप्त-द्वीप-पतिः: lord of the seven continents
• सप्त-द्वीप-पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (‘seven’ + ‘islands/continents’ + ‘lord’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘properly, well’)

• पितृवत्: like a father
• पितृवत्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पितृ + वत् (अव्ययवत्)
• Form: उपमान-अव्यय (adverb: ‘like a father’)

• पालयन्: protecting, ruling
• पालयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालय् (पाल् causative; धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः; पूरक-क्रिया with implied finite verb

• प्रजाः: the subjects, people
• प्रजाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यथा-उपजोषम्: as desired / suitably
• यथा-उपजोषम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + उपजोष (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययभाव)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (adverbial: ‘according to/appropriately’), अव्ययत्वम्

• विषयान्: sense-objects, enjoyments
• विषयान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• जुजुषे: enjoyed
• जुजुषे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जुष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अव्याहत-इन्द्रियः: having unimpaired senses
• अव्याहत-इन्द्रियः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्याहत (व्याहन् धातु; क्त with negation अ-) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘whose senses are unobstructed/uninjured’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् of (सः/पती) implied subject

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about an ideal king’s duty (rāja-dharma)?

This verse says an ideal ruler protects the subjects like a father—properly maintaining and caring for them—while living responsibly according to dharma.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 9.18.46 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while narrating the royal histories and standards of righteous rule in the Ninth Canto.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Whether leading a family, team, or community, one should protect and nurture dependents responsibly, and enjoy life’s comforts in a regulated, appropriate way without neglecting duty.