Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

तथेति राज्ञाभिहितं सर्वलोकहित: शिव: । दधारावहितो गङ्गां पादपूतजलां हरे: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

tatheti rājñābhihitaṁ sarva-loka-hitaḥ śivaḥ dadhārāvahito gaṅgāṁ pāda-pūta-jalāṁ hareḥ

Translation

രാജാവിന്റെ അപേക്ഷ കേട്ട് സർവ്വലോകഹിതനായ ശിവൻ “തഥാസ്തു” എന്നു സമ്മതിച്ചു. പിന്നെ ഹരിയുടെ പാദങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നു പവിത്രമായ ഗംഗാജലത്തെ അത്യന്തം ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ തന്റെ ശിരസ്സിൽ ധരിച്ചു.

Synonyms

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative-adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• इति: thus/so (quoting)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• अभिहितम्: spoken/said
• अभिहितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि√धा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with implied ‘वचनम्/आज्ञा’

• सर्व-लोक-हितः: beneficial to all worlds
• सर्व-लोक-हितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/संबन्ध: सर्वेषां लोकानां हितः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective of ‘शिवः’

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• दधार: held/bore
• दधार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अवहितः: attentive
• अवहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective of ‘शिवः’ (attentive/collected)

• गङ्गाम्: the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• पाद-पूत-जलाम्: whose water is purified by (His) feet
• पाद-पूत-जलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + पूत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय-प्राय: ‘पूतं जलं यस्याः’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective of ‘गङ्गाम्’

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

Characters & Entities

• Lord Śiva
• King Bhagīratha
• Gaṅgā
• Hari (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

Why does Lord Śiva hold the Gaṅgā in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

Because King Bhagīratha requests the descent of Gaṅgā, and Lord Śiva, for the welfare of all beings, carefully bears her mighty flow—revealing his protective role for the worlds.

What does 'pāda-pūta-jalāṁ hareḥ' mean in this verse?

It means “the water purified by the feet of Hari (Viṣṇu),” indicating that Gaṅgā is sacred because she is connected to the Lord’s lotus feet.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

It teaches attentive responsibility and service for the common good—like Śiva’s careful bearing of Gaṅgā—while honoring sacred sources of purification through devotion.