Shloka 18

Avadhūta’s Teachers: Python, Ocean, Moth, Bee, Elephant, Deer, Fish—and Piṅgalā’s Song of Detachment

Devanagari script

नृत्यवादित्रगीतानि जुषन् ग्राम्याणि योषिताम् । आसां क्रीडनको वश्य ऋष्यश‍ृङ्गो मृगीसुत: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

nṛtya-vāditra-gītāni juṣan grāmyāṇi yoṣitām āsāṁ krīḍanako vaśya ṛṣyaśṛṅgo mṛgī-sutaḥ

Translation

സുന്ദരികളായ സ്ത്രീകളുടെ ലോകീയ നൃത്ത-വാദ്യ-ഗാനങ്ങളിൽ ആകർഷിതനായി, മൃഗീസുതനായ മഹർഷി ഋഷ്യശൃംഗനും ഒരു വളർത്തുമൃഗംപോലെ അവരുടെ അധീനനായി വീണു.

Synonyms

• nṛtya-vāditra-gītāni: dances, instruments, and songs
• nṛtya-vāditra-gītāni: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛtya (प्रातिपदिक) + vāditra (प्रातिपदिक) + gīta (√gai धातु, क्त)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (नृत्यं च वादित्रं च गीतं च), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• juṣan: indulging in
• juṣan: Karta (कर्ता/agent participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: juṣ (जुष् धातु) → juṣat (शतृ कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (कर्तरि)

• grāmyāṇi: worldly
• grāmyāṇi: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: grāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (नृत्य-वादित्र-गीतानि इति विशेषण)

• yoṣitām: of women
• yoṣitām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• āsām: of these (women)
• āsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (एतासाम्)

• krīḍanakaḥ: a plaything
• krīḍanakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krīḍanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vaśyaḥ: submissive / under control
• vaśyaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (क्रिडनकः इति विशेषण)

• ṛṣyaśṛṅgaḥ: R̥śyaśṛṅga (name)
• ṛṣyaśṛṅgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ऋष्यस्य शृङ्गम्/शृङ्गवत्—नाम), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mṛgī-sutaḥ: son of a doe
• mṛgī-sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛgī (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मृग्याः सुतः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Purport

Ṛṣyaśṛṅga was intentionally brought up by his father in an atmosphere of complete innocence. The father thought that if his son were never exposed to the sight of women he would always remain a perfect brahmacārī. But by chance the inhabitants of the neighboring kingdom, who were suffering from a long-term drought, received divine advice that rain would return to their kingdom only after the brāhmaṇa named Ṛṣyaśṛṅga stepped foot in it. Therefore they sent beautiful women to Ṛṣyaśṛṅga’s hermitage to entice him and bring him back with them. Since Ṛṣyaśṛṅga had never even heard about women, he easily fell for their trap.

Characters & Entities

• Ṛśyaśṛṅga

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about being distracted by music, dance, and entertainment?

This verse warns that indulging in vulgar, worldly performances can overpower even a disciplined person, making one controlled by sense attraction rather than spiritual intelligence.

Who is Ṛśyaśṛṅga and why is he mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 11?

Ṛśyaśṛṅga is a sage cited as an example showing how powerful sense allure can be; the Bhagavatam uses his case to teach vigilance and detachment on the path of devotion.

Practical application: how can I apply this shloka in modern life?

Choose uplifting content, set boundaries around sensual or degrading media, and strengthen daily sādhana (chanting, hearing scripture, and good association) so the mind stays governed by dharma and bhakti.