Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 14

The Appearance of Vāmanadeva and His Arrival at Bali’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

तस्योपनीयमानस्य सावित्रीं सविताब्रवीत् । बृहस्पतिर्ब्रह्मसूत्रं मेखलां कश्यपोऽददात् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

tasyopanīyamānasya sāvitrīṁ savitābravīt bṛhaspatir brahma-sūtraṁ mekhalāṁ kaśyapo ’dadāt

Translation

Pada upacara upanayana Vāmanadeva, Dewa Surya sendiri melafalkan mantra Sāvitrī-Gāyatrī. Bṛhaspati mempersembahkan benang suci, dan resi Kaśyapa mempersembahkan mekhalā (ikat pinggang rumput).

Synonyms

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• उपनीयमानस्य: of (him) being led/initiated
• उपनीयमानस्य: विशेषण (adjectival to तस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-नी (धातु) + शानच्/मान (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्तः (Present passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• सावित्रीम्: the Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) mantra
• सावित्रीम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावित्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• सविता: the Sun-god (Savitṛ)
• सविता: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular)

• अब्रवीत्: said/recited
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Verb/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• बृहस्पतिः: Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतिः: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्मसूत्रम्: the sacred thread
• ब्रह्मसूत्रम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ब्रह्मणः सूत्रम्

• मेखलाम्: the girdle
• मेखलाम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेखला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कश्यपः: Kaśyapa
• कश्यपः: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अददात्: gave
• अददात्: क्रिया (Verb/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Savitā
• Bṛhaspati
• Kaśyapa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about upanayana (sacred initiation)?

In Vāmana’s appearance narrative, the Bhāgavatam describes His formal upanayana: the Sāvitrī mantra is recited to Him, and He receives the sacred thread and brahmacārī girdle—showing the Lord honoring Vedic dharma.

Why did Bṛhaspati give the sacred thread to Vāmana?

Bṛhaspati, as the devas’ guru, participates in Vāmana’s initiation by bestowing the brahma-sūtra, establishing Vāmana’s role as a Vedic brāhmaṇa mendicant for His mission with Bali.

Practical application of brahmacarya discipline in modern life?

This verse highlights structured spiritual training: adopting self-control, daily sacred study/prayer, and living with simplicity—principles of brahmacarya that support clarity and devotion today.