Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 5

Nārada Instructs Dakṣa’s Sons; Allegory of the World; Dakṣa Curses Nārada

Devanagari script

तदुपस्पर्शनादेव विनिर्धूतमलाशया: । धर्मे पारमहंस्ये च प्रोत्पन्नमतयोऽप्युत ॥ ४ ॥ तेपिरे तप एवोग्रं पित्रादेशेन यन्त्रिता: । प्रजाविवृद्धये यत्तान् देवर्षिस्तान् ददर्श ह ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

tad-upasparśanād eva vinirdhūta-malāśayāḥ dharme pāramahaṁsye ca protpanna-matayo ’py uta

Translation

ସେହି ପବିତ୍ର ସ୍ଥାନରେ ହର୍ୟଶ୍ୱମାନେ ସରୋବରର ଜଳକୁ ନିୟମିତ ସ୍ପର୍ଶ କରି ସ୍ନାନ କଲେ। କ୍ରମେ ତାଙ୍କର ମନମଳ ଧୋଇଗଲା ଏବଂ ପରମହଂସ-ଧର୍ମର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ଆସକ୍ତି ହେଲା। ତଥାପି ପିତାଙ୍କ ଆଦେଶରେ ପ୍ରଜାବୃଦ୍ଧି ପାଇଁ ସେମାନେ ଘୋର ତପ କଲେ। ଏକଦିନ ଦେବର୍ଷି ନାରଦ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଏପରି ଉତ୍ତମ ତପ କରୁଥିବା ଦେଖି ନିକଟକୁ ଆସିଲେ।

Synonyms

• tad: from that
• tad: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally with upasparśanāt

• upasparśanāt: from the (ritual) touching/contact
• upasparśanāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upasparśana (प्रातिपदिक) < upa+√spṛś (धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) emphasizing exclusivity

• vinirdhūta-malāśayāḥ: whose impurity in the heart was completely shaken off
• vinirdhūta-malāśayāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinirdhūta (कृदन्त; √dhū (धातु) + vi+nir, past passive participle) + mala-āśaya (प्रातिपदिक; mala + āśaya)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; bahuvrīhi-like sense but formally tatpuruṣa within; agrees with implied subject (they)

• dharme: in dharma
• dharme: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• pāramahaṁsye: in the paramahaṁsa (highest renunciate) path
• pāramahaṁsye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāramahaṁsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• protpanna-matayaḥ: those with awakened understanding
• protpanna-matayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: protpanna (कृदन्त; pra+ut+√pad/√pat (धातु), PPP) + mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; compound used as adjective-noun: 'those whose understanding has arisen'

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning 'also/even'

• uta: indeed/further
• uta: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uta (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) adding emphasis/continuation

• tepire: they performed austerity
• tepire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tap (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; parasmaipada

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• ugram: severe
• ugram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with tapaḥ

• pituḥ: of (their) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• ādeśena: by the command
• ādeśena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• yantritāḥ: restrained/compelled
• yantritāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yantrita (कृदन्त; √yam (धातु) with causative/denom sense 'to restrain', PPP)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with subject

• prajā-vivṛddhaye: for the increase of progeny
• prajā-vivṛddhaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + vivṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose dative

• yattān: striving/engaged
• yattān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yatta (कृदन्त; √yat (धातु) 'to strive/endeavor', PPP/adj)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifies devarṣīn

• devarṣīn: divine sages
• devarṣīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devarṣi (प्रातिपदिक; deva+ṛṣi)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; pronoun referring to devarṣīn

• dadarśa: he saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• ha: indeed/for sure
• ha: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) used in narrative emphasis

Characters & Entities

• Dakṣa
• Nārada (Devarṣi)
• Haryaśvas (sons of Dakṣa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about performing severe austerities (ugra tapasya) for progeny?

This verse shows Dakṣa’s sons undertaking intense austerity under their father’s command specifically to expand progeny—highlighting tapasya used for worldly aims, which the narrative later contrasts with higher spiritual purpose.

Why did Nārada Muni approach the sons of Dakṣa in Canto 6 Chapter 5?

They were engaged in austerities to increase population; Nārada, as a divine sage, intervenes in the story to guide them toward renunciation and devotion, altering the course of Dakṣa’s plan.

Practical application: What is the modern lesson from this verse about duty and spiritual guidance?

One may follow duty and authority sincerely, yet should also seek enlightened guidance to align one’s efforts with lasting spiritual goals rather than only temporary material outcomes.