Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 39
Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation
सा वै सप्त समा गर्भमबिभ्रन्न व्यजायत । जघ्नेऽश्मनोदरं तस्या: सोऽश्मकस्तेन कथ्यते ॥ ३९ ॥
sā vai sapta samā garbham abibhran na vyajāyata jaghne ’śmanodaraṁ tasyāḥ so ’śmakas tena kathyate
Madayanti mengandungkan anak itu selama tujuh tahun dan tidak melahirkan. Oleh itu Vasistha memukul perutnya dengan batu, dan kemudian anak itu dilahirkan. Akibatnya, anak itu dikenali sebagai Asmaka.
FAQs
Aśmaka is a king in the Ikṣvāku dynasty; this verse explains his birth and why he received the name Aśmaka.
Because he struck the stone (aśman) in his mother’s abdomen at birth; the name Aśmaka is linked to that event.
It shows how the Bhagavatam preserves sacred history with meaningful name-origins, encouraging students to study dharmic lineages with attention and reverence.