Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 36

The Kuru Line, Bhīṣma and Vyāsa; Pāṇḍavas, Parīkṣit, and Future Kings

Chandravaṁśa Continuation

Devanagari script

जनमेजयस्त्वां विदित्वा तक्षकान्निधनं गतम् । सर्पान् वै सर्पयागाग्नौ स होष्यति रुषान्वित: ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

janamejayas tvāṁ viditvā takṣakān nidhanaṁ gatam sarpān vai sarpa-yāgāgnau sa hoṣyati ruṣānvitaḥ

Translation

Apprenant que tu es mort par le serpent Takṣaka, ton fils Janamejaya sera saisi de colère et accomplira le sarpa-yajña, versant des offrandes dans le feu sacrificiel pour anéantir tous les serpents.

Synonyms

• janamejayaḥ: Janamejaya
• janamejayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janamejaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• viditvā: having learned/known
• viditvā: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable): 'having known'

• takṣakāt: from Takṣaka
• takṣakāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: takṣaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nidhanam: death; destruction
• nidhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nidhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• gatam: having come to; met (death)
• gatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक); gam (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'gone/attained' (agreeing with nidhanam)

• sarpān: snakes
• sarpān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/पादपूरण (indeed)

• sarpa-yāga-agnau: in the fire of the snake-sacrifice
• sarpa-yāga-agnau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa-yāga-agni (प्रातिपदिक); sarpa + yāga + agni
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'snake' + 'sacrifice' + 'fire' = 'in the fire of the snake-sacrifice'

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• hoṣyati: will offer (as oblation)
• hoṣyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: लृट् लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• ruṣā-anvitaḥ: filled with anger
• ruṣā-anvitaḥ: Hetu (हेतु)/Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ruṣā-anvita (प्रातिपदिक); ruṣā + anvita
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'with anger' (ruṣā, instr./assoc. sense) + 'endowed' (anvita, PPP from √i 'to go' with anu-)

Characters & Entities

• Janamejaya
• Takṣaka

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice (Sarpa Yajna)?

This verse states that when Janamejaya learns Takṣaka caused the death, he will angrily attempt to destroy the serpents by offering them into the sacrificial fire of a snake-yajña.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention Janamejaya and Takṣaka here?

Śukadeva is forecasting a future consequence in the Kuru line—how news of a death caused by Takṣaka provokes Janamejaya’s retaliatory snake-sacrifice—linking dynasty history with karmic reactions.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

It warns that acting from anger can escalate harm to many; a devotee should pause, seek truth, and respond with dharma rather than revenge.