Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 18

Rantideva’s Supreme Charity and the Hastī Lineage

Hastināpura and Pañcāla Origins

Devanagari script

तत्प्रसङ्गानुभावेन रन्तिदेवानुवर्तिन: । अभवन् योगिन: सर्वे नारायणपरायणा: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

tat-prasaṅgānubhāvena rantidevānuvartinaḥ abhavan yoginaḥ sarve nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇāḥ

Translation

Par la puissance de sa compagnie et par la miséricorde du roi Rantideva, tous ceux qui le suivirent devinrent les meilleurs yogīs et de purs dévots, entièrement voués à Śrī Nārāyaṇa.

Synonyms

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; in compound: ‘of that’ (genitive dependent)

• प्रसङ्ग: association
• प्रसङ्ग: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; in compound: ‘association/connection’

• अनुभावेन: by the influence
• अनुभावेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental: ‘by/through the influence’

• तत्-प्रसङ्ग-अनुभावेन: by the influence of association with him/that
• तत्-प्रसङ्ग-अनुभावेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + प्रसङ्ग + अनुभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); whole: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• रन्तिदेव: of Rantideva
• रन्तिदेव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रन्तिदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; in compound: ‘of Rantideva’

• अनुवर्तिनः: followers
• अनुवर्तिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘followers’

• रन्तिदेव-अनुवर्तिनः: followers of Rantideva
• रन्तिदेव-अनुवर्तिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रन्तिदेव + अनुवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अभवन्: became
• अभवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• योगिनः: yogis
• योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate nominative

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; qualifier of योगिनः

• नारायण: Narayana
• नारायण: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; in compound (dependent member)

• परायणाः: wholly devoted
• परायणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘devoted/wholly dedicated’

• नारायण-परायणाः: having Narayana as their sole refuge
• नारायण-परायणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुष; ‘Narayana as the sole refuge’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; qualifier of योगिनः

Purport

The best yogīs or mystics are the devotees, as confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (6.47) :

Characters & Entities

• Rantideva
• Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of association with a devotee (sādhu-saṅga)?

This verse states that by the influence of association and discussing Rantideva’s life, his followers became yogīs and exclusive devotees of Lord Nārāyaṇa.

Who is speaking about King Rantideva in Bhagavatam 9.21.18?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates the glories of King Rantideva while describing the dynasties and exemplary devotees in the Ninth Canto.

How can I apply ‘Nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇa’ devotion in modern life?

Keep company with sincere devotees, hear and speak about saintly lives and the Lord, and let that association shape daily choices toward single-minded devotion to Nārāyaṇa.