Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 10

Soma Pacifies the Pracetās; Dakṣa’s Haṁsa-guhya Prayers; Hari Grants Creative Power

Devanagari script

यूयं च पित्रान्वादिष्टा देवदेवेन चानघा: । प्रजासर्गाय हि कथं वृक्षान्निर्दग्धुमर्हथ ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

yūyaṁ ca pitrānvādiṣṭā deva-devena cānaghāḥ prajā-sargāya hi kathaṁ vṛkṣān nirdagdhum arhatha

Translation

汚れなき者たちよ、汝らは父プラーチーナバルヒと、神々の神たる至上主バガヴァーンより、民を増やすよう命じられている。しかるに、臣民と子孫の養いに要るこれらの樹木と薬草を、どうして灰に焼き尽くせようか。

Synonyms

• yūyam: you (all)
• yūyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• pitrān: the fathers/ancestors
• pitrān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• vādiṣṭāḥ: were instructed/ordered
• vādiṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√diś (धातु) + vā (उपसर्ग) ?
• Form: लिट्/परस्मैपद? (uncertain); actually from √diś with prefix ā: 'ādiṣṭāḥ' is past passive participle; here read as 'ādiṣṭāḥ' (कृदन्त) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• deva-devena: by the Lord of gods
• deva-devena: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: 'devaḥ eva devaḥ' (God of gods); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• anaghāḥ: O sinless ones
• anaghāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anagha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे (vocative-sense) 'O sinless ones'

• prajā-sargāya: for the creation of progeny
• prajā-sargāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + sarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'prajānāṁ sargaḥ' (creation of progeny); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), indeed

• katham: how
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• vṛkṣān: trees
• vṛkṣān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• nirdagdhum: to burn up
• nirdagdhum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√dah (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक: 'to burn completely'

• arhatha: you ought/are fit
• arhatha: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Daksha Prajapati
• Pitrs (forefathers)
• Devadeva (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about praja-sarga (creating progeny) and duty?

This verse presents procreation as a divinely assigned duty for Prajapatis and the Pitrs, implying that actions opposing that purpose—like destructive violence—contradict dharma.

Why did Daksha Prajapati speak about not burning trees to ashes?

Daksha rebukes destructive behavior as inconsistent with their mandate from Devadeva to increase living beings; harming the environment and life opposes their role as progenitors.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

Align actions with one’s responsibility and higher purpose—avoid needless destruction of nature and choose conduct that supports life, harmony, and long-term welfare.