Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 23

Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation

Devanagari script

रक्ष:कृतं तद् विदित्वा चक्रे द्वादशवार्षिकम् । सोऽप्यपोऽञ्जलिमादाय गुरुं शप्तुं समुद्यत: ॥ २३ ॥ वारितो मदयन्त्यापो रुशती: पादयोर्जहौ । दिश: खमवनीं सर्वं पश्यञ्जीवमयं नृप: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

rakṣaḥ-kṛtaṁ tad viditvā cakre dvādaśa-vārṣikam so ’py apo-’ñjalim ādāya guruṁ śaptuṁ samudyataḥ

Translation

ເມື່ອ ວະສິດຖະ ຮູ້ວ່າ ເນື້ອຄົນນັ້ນເປັນຝີມືຂອງຣາກຊະສະ ບໍ່ແມ່ນຂອງພຣະຣາຊາ ທ່ານຈຶ່ງເສຍໃຈທີ່ໄດ້ສາບແຊ່ງຜູ້ບໍ່ມີຜິດ ແລະບຳເນັດຕະບະເປັນເວລາສິບສອງປີເພື່ອຊຳລະຕົນ. ຂະນະນັ້ນ ສະອຸດາສະ ກໍຖືນ້ຳໃນຝາມື ສວດມົນສາບແຊ່ງ ຈະສາບ ວະສິດຖະ ແຕ່ນາງ ມະດະຍັນຕີ ພັນລະຍາໄດ້ຫ້າມ; ດ້ວຍຄວາມໂກດ ນາງໄດ້ເທນ້ຳນັ້ນລົງໃກ້ພຣະບາດຂອງຄູ. ແລ້ວພຣະຣາຊາເຫັນວ່າ ສິບທິດ ຟ້າ ແລະຜິວແຜ່ນດິນ ລ້ວນເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍສັດມີຊີວິດທົ່ວໄປ.

Synonyms

• rakṣaḥ-kṛtam: done by a demon
• rakṣaḥ-kṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृ-धातोः क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘done by a demon’

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• viditvā: having learned
• viditvā: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having known’

• cakre: made/did
• cakre: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; ātmanepada

• dvādaśa-vārṣikam: twelve-year (observance)
• dvādaśa-vārṣikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + vārṣika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; द्विगु-समासः—‘of twelve years’ (twelve-year [vow/penance])

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; pronoun

• api: also
• api: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning ‘also/even’

• apaḥ: water
• apaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘waters’

• añjalim: a handful (in cupped hands)
• añjalim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; ‘handful/añjali’

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having taken’

• gurum: the guru
• gurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• śaptum: to curse
• śaptum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śap (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to curse’

• samudyataḥ: prepared/ready
• samudyataḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ud-yam (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘having risen up/ready’

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasa
• guru (spiritual master)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about cursing one's guru?

This verse shows the grave impulse to curse the guru even when one feels wronged; Bhagavatam presents such a reaction as spiritually dangerous and requiring restraint and higher understanding.

Why was he ready to curse his guru in this verse?

Because he concluded a Rākṣasa had caused the disruption, yet in his agitation he directed blame toward his guru, and with ritual water in hand he prepared to pronounce a curse.

Practical application of guru-tattva and restraint in modern life?

Before reacting against teachers, elders, or mentors, pause to verify causes, control anger, and respond with humility—rash blame can damage long-term spiritual and personal growth.