Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 14

Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense

Devanagari script

श्रीराजोवाच भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि राजर्षेस्तस्य धीमत: । न प्राभूद् यत्र निर्मुक्तो ब्रह्मदण्डो दुरत्यय: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-rājovāca bhagavañ chrotum icchāmi rājarṣes tasya dhīmataḥ na prābhūd yatra nirmukto brahma-daṇḍo duratyayaḥ

Translation

ଶ୍ରୀରାଜା କହିଲେ— ହେ ଭଗବନ୍! ମୁଁ ସେହି ଧୀମାନ୍ ରାଜର୍ଷି ମହାରାଜ ଅମ୍ବରୀଷଙ୍କ ଚରିତ ଶୁଣିବାକୁ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରୁଛି। ଦୁରତ୍ୟୟ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ-ଶାପରୂପ ବ୍ରହ୍ମଦଣ୍ଡ ମଧ୍ୟ ତାଙ୍କୁ କାହିଁକି ପ୍ରଭାବିତ କରିପାରିଲା ନାହିଁ— ଏହା ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟ!

Synonyms

• śrī-rājā: the revered king
• śrī-rājā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); संबोधनार्थ-पूर्वपद ‘śrī’ (श्री) उपपद

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• bhagavan: O Lord
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrotum: to hear
• śrotum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Goal of action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्/तुमर्थ), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; ‘to hear’

• icchāmi: I wish
• icchāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• rājarṣeḥ: of the royal sage
• rājarṣeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājarṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘rāja+ṛṣi’ (राज+ऋषि)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhīmataḥ: of the wise one
• dhīmataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण of ‘tasya/rājarṣeḥ’

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• prābhūt: arose/occurred
• prābhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग ‘pra-’

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (सम्बन्ध-अव्यय), ‘where’

• nirmuktaḥ: released/let loose
• nirmuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—describing brahma-daṇḍaḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir+muñc (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• brahma-daṇḍaḥ: the Brahminical curse/punitive rod
• brahma-daṇḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘brahmaṇaḥ daṇḍaḥ’

• duratyayaḥ: hard to overcome
• duratyayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duratyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण of ‘brahma-daṇḍaḥ’

Characters & Entities

• King Parikshit
• Shukadeva Gosvami
• Rajarshi (the royal sage)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of brahma-daṇḍa (brāhmaṇical punishment)?

This verse highlights that brahma-daṇḍa is ordinarily “duratyaya”—extremely difficult to overcome—yet Parīkṣit asks how, in one exceptional case, it was released and did not take effect.

Why did King Parīkṣit ask this question to Śukadeva Gosvāmī?

As a serious student of dharma and bhakti, Parīkṣit wants to understand the rare circumstance in which a powerful brāhmaṇical punishment became ineffectual, so he requests the narrative from Śukadeva in proper spiritual disciplic hearing.

Practical application: how should one respond when facing severe consequences or ‘punishment’ in life?

The verse encourages humble inquiry and faith-based learning: rather than reacting with pride or despair, one should seek guidance from saintly wisdom and align with dharma and devotion, which the Bhagavatam repeatedly presents as the highest shelter.