Shloka 17

Duryodhana’s Envy at Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya and the Avabhṛtha Festival

Devanagari script

ता देवरानुत सखीन् सिषिचुर्द‍ृतीभि: क्लिन्नाम्बरा विवृतगात्रकुचोरुमध्या: । औत्सुक्यमुक्तकवराच्च्यवमानमाल्या: क्षोभं दधुर्मलधियां रुचिरैर्विहारै: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

tā devarān uta sakhīn siṣicur dṛtībhiḥ klinnāmbarā vivṛta-gātra-kucoru-madhyāḥ autsukya-mukta-kavarāc cyavamāna-mālyāḥ kṣobhaṁ dadhur mala-dhiyāṁ rucirair vihāraiḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ രാജ്ഞിമാർ ദേവരന്മാരെയും സഖാക്കളെയും പിച്ചക്കാരികളാൽ വെള്ളം തളിച്ചു. അവരുടെ വസ്ത്രങ്ങൾ നനഞ്ഞു കൈകൾ, സ്തനങ്ങൾ, തുടകൾ, അരക്കെട്ട് എന്നിവ തെളിഞ്ഞു. ആവേശത്തിൽ ഇളകിയ ജടയിൽ നിന്നു പുഷ്പമാലകൾ വീണു; ഈ മനോഹര ക്രീഡകൾ മലിനചിത്തരെ കലക്കി.

Synonyms

• tāḥ: they (those women)
• tāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• devarān: brothers-in-law
• devarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• uta: and also
• uta: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uta (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; conjunction/particle (समुच्चय/विकल्प)

• sakhīn: friends
• sakhīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• siṣicuḥ: sprinkled, poured (water)
• siṣicuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sic (धातु; सिच् सिञ्चने)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural; parasmaipada

• dṛtībhiḥ: with water-skins/leather bags
• dṛtībhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• klinna-ambarāḥ: with drenched clothes
• klinna-ambarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: klinna-ambara (प्रातिपदिक; klinna + ambara)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; karmadhāraya: 'wet garments'

• vivṛta-gātra-kuca-ūru-madhyāḥ: with bodies (limbs etc.) revealed
• vivṛta-gātra-kuca-ūru-madhyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vivṛta + gātra + kuca + ūru + madhya (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; bahuvrīhi: 'whose limbs, breasts, thighs and waists were revealed'

• autsukya-mukta-kavarāt: from the loosened braid (from excitement)
• autsukya-mukta-kavarāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: autsukya-mukta-kavara (प्रातिपदिक; autsukya + mukta + kavara)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'from the loosened braid due to excitement'

• cyavamāna-mālyāḥ: whose garlands were slipping down
• cyavamāna-mālyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √cyu (धातु; च्यु ङ् गतौ/च्यवने) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) cyavamāna + mālya; Feminine, Nominative, Plural; karmadhāraya: 'garlands slipping/falling'

• kṣobham: agitation, disturbance
• kṣobham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣobha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dadhuḥ: caused/produced, gave rise to
• dadhuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु; धृ धारणे)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural; parasmaipada

• mala-dhiyām: of the impure-minded
• mala-dhiyām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mala-dhī (प्रातिपदिक; mala + dhī)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'of impure-minded (persons)'

• ruciraiḥ: charming, delightful
• ruciraiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rucira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (agreeing with vihāraiḥ)

• vihāraiḥ: by (their) playful sports
• vihāraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vihāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

Purport

Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “Such behavior between pure males and females is enjoyable, but persons who are materially contaminated become lustful.”

Characters & Entities

• Wives of the demigods (deva-patnīs)
• Royal ladies at Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya assembly

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about how attraction agitates an impure mind?

This verse says the women’s charming play stirred agitation specifically in “mala-dhiyām”—those whose minds are impure—implying that inner purity determines whether beauty leads to disturbance or not.

Who is speaking in Bhagavatam 10.75.17 and what is the context of the scene?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates events at King Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya sacrifice, describing the royal and celestial ladies playfully sprinkling one another with water within the festive assembly.

How can this Bhagavatam verse be applied in modern life for spiritual practice?

It teaches that external sights are not the only issue—purifying the mind through devotion, discipline, and remembrance of the Lord reduces agitation and supports steady self-control.