Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 56

Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath, the Assault on Vedic Culture, and the Boy-Yamarāja’s Teaching on the Soul

Devanagari script

एवं कुलिङ्गं विलपन्तमारात् प्रियावियोगातुरमश्रुकण्ठम् । स एव तं शाकुनिक: शरेण विव्याध कालप्रहितो विलीन: ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ kuliṅgaṁ vilapantam ārāt priyā-viyogāturam aśru-kaṇṭham sa eva taṁ śākunikaḥ śareṇa vivyādha kāla-prahito vilīnaḥ

Translation

പ്രിയാവിയോഗത്തിൽ വ്യാകുലനായ കുലിംഗപ്പക്ഷി കണ്ണീരോടെ കണ്ഠം ഇടറിക്കൊണ്ട് വിലപിച്ചു. അപ്പോൾ കാലപ്രേരിതനായി ദൂരത്ത് മറഞ്ഞിരുന്ന വേട്ടക്കാരൻ അമ്പെറിഞ്ഞ് അതിനെ കുത്തി കൊന്നു.

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: सम्बन्ध/प्रकार (relation/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable); प्रकारवाचक (manner-adverb)

• कुलिङ्गम्: the sparrow (kuliṅga bird)
• कुलिङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• विलपन्तम्: lamenting
• विलपन्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-लप् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कुलिङ्गम्’ विशेषणरूपेण

• आरात्: from nearby / at close range
• आरात्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आरात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (from nearby/at once)

• प्रियावियोगातुरम्: distressed by separation from the beloved
• प्रियावियोगातुरम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + वियोग (प्रातिपदिक) + आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रियाया वियोगः → प्रियावियोगः; तेन आतुरः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कुलिङ्गम्’ विशेषणम्

• अश्रुकण्ठम्: with a throat choked with tears
• अश्रुकण्ठम्: कर्म-विशेषण (object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (अश्रुभिः कण्ठः/अश्रुपूर्णः कण्ठः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कुलिङ्गम्’ विशेषणम्

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध/अवधारण (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• तम्: him/that one
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘कुलिङ्गम्’ निर्देशः

• शाकुनिकः: the bird-catcher/hunter
• शाकुनिकः: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाकुनिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शरेण: with an arrow
• शरेण: करण (Karaṇa/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• विव्याध: pierced
• विव्याध: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• कालप्रहितः: sent by Time (fate-driven)
• कालप्रहितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (कालेन प्रहितः); ‘प्रहित’ = प्र-हि (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘शाकुनिकः’ विशेषणम्

• विलीनः: having disappeared/vanished
• विलीनः: कर्ता-विशेषण (agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ली (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘शाकुनिकः’ विशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• kuliṅga (bird)
• śākunika (hunter)
• Kāla (Time)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about attachment causing suffering?

This verse shows how intense attachment and lamentation over a loved one leaves one vulnerable; in the very moment of grief, Time (kāla) brings inevitable death through the hunter.

Why does the Bhagavatam describe the hunter as 'impelled by Time (kāla-prahitaḥ)'?

It teaches that behind visible causes (like a hunter’s arrow) stands the higher force of Kāla—inevitable time that brings the results of karma and ends embodied life.

What is the practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Cultivate devotion and inner detachment: love without possessiveness, remember life’s impermanence, and prioritize spiritual practice so sudden reversals do not destroy one’s balance.