Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 37

The Dynasty of Vaivasvata Manu Begins — Ilā/Sudyumna and the Birth of Purūravā

Devanagari script

स तस्य तां दशां दृष्ट्वा कृपया भृशपीडित: । सुद्युम्नस्याशयन् पुंस्त्वमुपाधावत शङ्करम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

sa tasya tāṁ daśāṁ dṛṣṭvā kṛpayā bhṛśa-pīḍitaḥ sudyumnasyāśayan puṁstvam upādhāvata śaṅkaram

Translation

Melihat keadaan Sudyumna yang menyedihkan, Vasiṣṭha sangat terharu oleh belas kasihan. Dengan hasrat agar Sudyumna kembali memperoleh kelelakian, beliau pun memuja Bhagavān Śaṅkara (Śiva) sekali lagi.

Synonyms

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• daśām: condition/state
• daśām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund) (having seen)

• kṛpayā: with compassion
• kṛpayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular; by/with compassion)

• bhṛśa-pīḍitaḥ: greatly afflicted
• bhṛśa-pīḍitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛśa (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + pīḍita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √pīḍ धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (भृशं पीडितः = greatly afflicted)

• sudyumnasya: of Sudyumna
• sudyumnasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sudyumna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• āśayan: wishing
• āśayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√śī (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (desiring/wishing)

• puṁstvam: manhood/male state
• puṁstvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṁs (प्रातिपदिक) + tva (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• upādhāvata: ran up/approached
• upādhāvata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-ā-√dhāv (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• śaṅkaram: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• śaṅkaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Sudyumna
• Śaṅkara (Lord Śiva)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about seeking Lord Shiva’s help?

This verse shows a devotee urgently approaching Śaṅkara with compassion and faith, seeking divine intervention to relieve Sudyumna’s suffering.

Why did he approach Śaṅkara regarding Sudyumna?

After seeing Sudyumna’s altered condition, he wished to restore Sudyumna’s male identity and therefore sought Lord Śiva’s assistance.

What is the practical lesson of this shloka for modern life?

When faced with distress, respond with compassion and take sincere shelter of the Lord through prayer and proper spiritual guidance rather than despair.