Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 23

Yayāti’s Renunciation: The Allegory of the He-Goat and She-Goat

Devanagari script

भूमण्डलस्य सर्वस्य पूरुमर्हत्तमं विशाम् । अभिषिच्याग्रजांस्तस्य वशे स्थाप्य वनं ययौ ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

bhū-maṇḍalasya sarvasya pūrum arhattamaṁ viśām abhiṣicyāgrajāṁs tasya vaśe sthāpya vanaṁ yayau

Translation

Yayāti intronisa son plus jeune fils Pūru comme empereur de toute la terre et maître de toutes ses richesses; il plaça les fils aînés sous son autorité, puis se retira dans la forêt.

Synonyms

• bhū-maṇḍalasya: of the earth-circle (world)
• bhū-maṇḍalasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भूः-सम्बन्धि मण्डलम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• sarvasya: of the entire
• sarvasya: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• pūrum: Puru
• pūrum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• arhattamam: most worthy
• arhattamam: Visheshana (विशेषण of पूरुम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arhat (प्रातिपदिक) + tama (तमप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; अतिशय-तमतम (superlative) विशेषणम्

• viśām: of the people/subjects
• viśām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); बहुवचन

• abhiṣicya: having consecrated
• abhiṣicya: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√sic (धातु) + ya (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-सम)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); अभि+√सिच् (to anoint, consecrate)

• agrajān: elder brothers/elders
• agrajān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agraja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); बहुवचन

• tasya: of him (Puru)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• vaśe: under control/authority
• vaśe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन

• sthāpya: having placed
• sthāpya: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्) → sthāpaya + ya (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); causative of √स्था (to place)

• vanam: to the forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म/गमनस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Puru
• Yayāti

FAQs

Why did King Yayāti go to the forest in Srimad Bhagavatam?

After establishing the most qualified successor (Puru) and ensuring orderly governance, Yayāti embraced forest life (vānaprastha), demonstrating detachment and the dharmic transition from royal duty to renunciation.

Why was Puru chosen as ruler over his elder brothers in Bhagavata Purana 9.19?

This verse highlights Puru as “arhat-tama,” the most worthy; Yayāti therefore anointed him and placed the elder brothers under his authority to uphold righteous and stable rule.

What is the practical lesson of Yayāti anointing Puru and renouncing the kingdom?

Choose leadership by merit and character, not merely by seniority, and learn timely detachment—fulfill responsibilities properly, then step back without clinging to power.