Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 17

Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire

Devanagari script

एवंविधै: सुपरुषै: क्षिप्‍त्वाचार्यसुतां सतीम् । शर्मिष्ठा प्राक्षिपत् कूपे वासश्चादाय मन्युना ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ-vidhaiḥ suparuṣaiḥ kṣiptvācārya-sutāṁ satīm śarmiṣṭhā prākṣipat kūpe vāsaś cādāya manyunā

Translation

ಇಂತಹ ಕಠೋರ ಮಾತುಗಳಿಂದ ಶರ್ಮಿಷ್ಠಾ ಶುಕ್ರಾಚಾರ್ಯರ ಪುತ್ರಿ ಸತಿ ದೇವಯಾನಿಯನ್ನು ಗದರಿಸಿದಳು. ಕೋಪದಿಂದ ಅವಳ ವಸ್ತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಕಸಿದು ದೇವಯಾನಿಯನ್ನು ಬಾವಿಗೆ ತಳ್ಳಿದಳು.

Synonyms

• एवंविधैः: by such (of this kind)
• एवंविधैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एवंविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन; adjective used instrumentally (by such)

• सुपरुषैः: by very harsh (persons)
• सुपरुषैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुपरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन; qualifying the agents

• क्षिप्त्वा: having thrown
• क्षिप्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); having thrown

• आचार्यसुताम्: the teacher’s daughter
• आचार्यसुताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य-सुता (प्रातिपदिक); components: आचार्य + सुता
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन

• सतीम्: chaste/virtuous
• सतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन; adjective to आचार्यसुताम्

• शर्मिष्ठा: Śarmiṣṭhā
• शर्मिष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्मिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता) एकवचन

• प्राक्षिपत्: threw (down)
• प्राक्षिपत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कूपे: in a well
• कूपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण) एकवचन

• वासः: garment/clothing
• वासः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन; object of आदाय

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

• आदाय: having taken (away)
• आदाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); having taken away

• मन्युना: out of anger
• मन्युना: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/हेतु) एकवचन; instrumental of cause

Characters & Entities

• Śarmiṣṭhā
• Devayānī
• Śukrācārya

FAQs

Why did Śarmiṣṭhā throw Devayānī into a well in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse states that Śarmiṣṭhā, driven by anger and rivalry, had Devayānī cast into a well and even took her garments—an act rooted in envy and insult.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavata Purana 9.18.17?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this incident to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

What practical lesson does this shloka teach for modern life?

Anger and envy can push one into humiliating others, creating severe karmic and relational consequences; restraint and respect for dharma prevent such destructive actions.