Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 36

King Vena’s Tyranny, the Sages’ Counsel, and the Birth of Niṣāda

Devanagari script

एकदा मुनयस्ते तु सरस्वत्सलिलाप्लुता: । हुत्वाग्नीन् सत्कथाश्चक्रुरुपविष्टा: सरित्तटे ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

ekadā munayas te tu sarasvat-salilāplutāḥ hutvāgnīn sat-kathāś cakrur upaviṣṭāḥ sarit-taṭe

Translation

ଏକଦା ସେଇ ମୁନିମାନେ ସରସ୍ୱତୀ ନଦୀଜଳରେ ସ୍ନାନ କରି ଯଜ୍ଞାଗ୍ନିରେ ଆହୁତି ଦେଇ ନିତ୍ୟକର୍ମ ସମ୍ପାଦନ କଲେ। ପରେ ନଦୀତଟେ ବସି ପରମପୁରୁଷ ଓ ତାଙ୍କ ଲୀଳା ବିଷୟରେ ପବିତ୍ର କଥାବାର୍ତ୍ତା କଲେ।

Synonyms

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• मुनयः: the sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• सरस्वत्-सलिल-आप्लुताः: bathed in the waters of the Sarasvatī
• सरस्वत्-सलिल-आप्लुताः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरस्वत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सलिल (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्लुत (कृदन्त; √प्लु)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास; 'सरस्वत्याः सलिले आप्लुताः' (bathed in Sarasvatī’s water); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• हुत्वा: having offered (oblations)
• हुत्वा: Purva-kala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund/absolutive), 'having offered'

• अग्नीन्: the sacred fires
• अग्नीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• सत्-कथाः: holy talks/discourses
• सत्-कथाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास ('good/holy stories'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• चक्रुः: they did/made
• चक्रुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• उपविष्टाः: seated
• उपविष्टाः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपविष्ट (कृदन्त; उप-√विश्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; qualifying मुनयः

• सरित्-तटे: on the riverbank
• सरित्-तटे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरित् (प्रातिपदिक) + तट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष 'सरितः तटः'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Sarasvatī
• munis (sages)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about sat-kathā (saintly discussion)?

This verse shows sages completing their Vedic duties and then engaging in sat-kathā—spiritually elevating conversations—indicating that hearing and discussing sacred topics is central to saintly life.

Why are the sages described as bathing in the Sarasvatī before speaking?

Bathing in a holy river signifies purification and reverence; after cleansing and offering oblations, the sages sit in a sanctified mood fit for discussing dharma and divine topics.

How can sat-kathā be practiced in modern life according to this verse?

Create time for spiritual conversation—study and discuss Bhagavatam with devotees—ideally after personal discipline and a clean, prayerful routine, even if one cannot perform elaborate rituals.