Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 41

Dhruva-vaṁśa Continuation: Utkala’s Renunciation, Aṅga’s Sacrifice, and the Birth of Vena

Prelude to Pṛthu

Devanagari script

आक्रीडे क्रीडतो बालान् वयस्यानतिदारुण: । प्रसह्य निरनुक्रोश: पशुमारममारयत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

ākrīḍe krīḍato bālān vayasyān atidāruṇaḥ prasahya niranukrośaḥ paśu-māram amārayat

Translation

その少年はあまりにも残酷で、同年代の少年たちと遊んでいる最中に、まるで屠殺される動物であるかのように彼らを無慈悲に殺してしまった。

Synonyms

• आक्रीडे: in the playground
• आक्रीडे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आक्रीड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्रीडतः: while (he was) playing
• क्रीडतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of (him) playing’

• बालान्: children
• बालान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वयस्यान्: companions of the same age
• वयस्यान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अतिदारुणः: very cruel
• अतिदारुणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास: ‘excessively cruel’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifies subject

• प्रसह्य: forcibly
• प्रसह्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-सह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having forced/violently’

• निरनुक्रोशः: merciless
• निरनुक्रोशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + अनुक्रोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद/तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘without compassion’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पशुमारम्: slaughter of animals
• पशुमारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु + मार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘killing of animals’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अमारयत्: he caused to die/killed
• अमारयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोग (causative), लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about cruelty and forcing others to commit violence?

This verse condemns merciless behavior: a cruel person may even compel others to kill animals, showing deep adharma and creating severe karmic reactions.

Who is speaking this verse in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.13.41?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this description while recounting the lineage and character traits found within the descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja.

What is a practical modern-life takeaway from this shloka?

Avoid normalizing or pressuring others into harmful actions; cultivate compassion and nonviolence, since cruelty—especially when encouraged socially—damages character and brings negative consequences.