Shloka 1

Bṛhaspati Rejects the Demigods: The Root of Deva Weakness and the Need for Humility

श्रीराजोवाच कस्य हेतो: परित्यक्ता आचार्येणात्मन: सुरा: । एतदाचक्ष्व भगवञ्छिष्याणामक्रमं गुरौ ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca kasya hetoḥ parityaktā ācāryeṇātmanaḥ surāḥ etad ācakṣva bhagavañ chiṣyāṇām akramaṁ gurau

ശ്രീരാജാവ് പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ഭഗവൻ മഹർഷേ, ദേവഗുരു ബൃഹസ്പതി തന്റെ ശിഷ്യരായ ദേവന്മാരെ എന്തു കാരണത്താൽ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചു? ഗുരുവിനോടു അവർ ചെയ്ത അപരാധം എന്ത്? ദയവായി ഈ സംഭവമെന്നോട് പറയുക।

śrī-rājāthe glorious king
śrī-rājā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootśrī-rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); संबोधनार्थ-उपपदसमासः—‘श्रीमान् राजा’
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद
kasyaof what/whose
kasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
hetoḥfrom what cause; due to what reason
hetoḥ:
Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Roothetu (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)
parityaktāḥabandoned; forsaken
parityaktāḥ:
Kriya/Predicate (क्रिया/विधेय)
TypeVerb
Rootpari-tyaj (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
FormPast passive participle (क्त/भूतकर्मणि), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मणि-प्रयोगे कर्तृवाच्य-विशेषणम्
ācāryeṇaby the teacher
ācāryeṇa:
Karana/Karta-in-passive (करण/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
TypeNoun
Rootācārya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)
ātmanaḥof himself; of their own
ātmanaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootātman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)
surāḥthe gods
surāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsura (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)
etatthis
etat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
ācakṣvatell; explain
ācakṣva:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootā-cakṣ (धातु)
FormImperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); आत्मनेपद
bhagavanO venerable one
bhagavan:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootbhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)
śiṣyāṇāmof the disciples
śiṣyāṇām:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootśiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)
akramamthe impropriety; breach of order
akramam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootakrama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
gurautoward/in the teacher
gurau:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootguru (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura comments:

K
King Parīkṣit
Ś
Śukadeva Gosvāmī
T
the demigods (Surāḥ)
T
the ācārya (Bṛhaspati)

FAQs

This verse introduces Parīkṣit’s inquiry: the demigods were abandoned because of a serious lapse in proper conduct toward their ācārya, prompting the guru to withdraw his guidance.

Because the narrative in Canto 6, Chapter 7 hinges on a breakdown in guru-disciple etiquette among the demigods, which triggers major consequences and the events leading toward Vṛtrāsura.

Maintain humility and proper respect toward one’s teacher and spiritual guides; neglecting guru-etiquette can weaken one’s protection, clarity, and progress on the path of bhakti.