Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 38

Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā

Devanagari script

प्रतिश्रुतं च भवता पाञ्चाल्यै श‍ृण्वतो मम । आहरिष्ये शिरस्तस्य यस्ते मानिनि पुत्रहा ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

pratiśrutaṁ ca bhavatā pāñcālyai śṛṇvato mama āhariṣye śiras tasya yas te mānini putra-hā

Translation

さらに、私はあなたがドラウパディーに対して、彼女の息子たちを殺した者の首を持ってくると約束したのを直接聞いた。

Synonyms

• pratiśrutam: (what was) promised
• pratiśrutam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prati + śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) used as noun, Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय निपात)

• bhavatā: by you
• bhavatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun of respect (भवत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pāñcālyai: to Draupadī (Pāñcālī)
• pāñcālyai: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāñcālī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śṛṇvataḥ: while (she) was hearing / of (me) hearing
• śṛṇvataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शतृ), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• mama: of me/my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (अस्मद्), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• āhariṣye: I shall bring
• āhariṣye: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + hṛ (हृ धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• śiraḥ: the head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यत्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Pronoun (त्वद्), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mānini: O proud lady
• mānini: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māninī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• putra-hā: slayer of (your) sons
• putra-hā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + han (हन् धातु)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: putrān hanti iti (slayer of sons)

Characters & Entities

• Pāñcālī (Draupadī)
• Aśvatthāmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about justice after the killing of Draupadi’s sons?

This verse shows Bhīma recalling his vow to Draupadī to bring the head of the son-killer (Aśvatthāmā), highlighting the demand for justice within kṣatriya dharma.

Why did Bhima say this to Draupadi (Panchali)?

Because Draupadī had suffered the murder of her sons, and Bhīma reminds her—and the others—of his publicly heard promise to punish the culprit by bringing his head.

Practical application of keeping one’s word in modern life?

The verse emphasizes integrity: make promises carefully, and once given—especially to the afflicted—honor them through responsible action.