Shloka 36

Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama and Vidura’s Turn Toward Maitreya

Devanagari script

कालिन्द्या: कतिभि: सिद्ध अहोभिर्भरतर्षभ । प्रापद्यत स्व:सरितं यत्र मित्रासुतो मुनि: ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

kālindyāḥ katibhiḥ siddha ahobhir bharatarṣabha prāpadyata svaḥ-saritaṁ yatra mitrā-suto muniḥ

Translation

ହେ ଭରତଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! କାଳିନ୍ଦୀ (ଯମୁନା) ତଟରେ କିଛି ଦିନ କାଟି ଆତ୍ମସିଦ୍ଧ ବିଦୁର ସ୍ୱର୍ଗସରିତା ଗଙ୍ଗା ତଟକୁ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲେ; ସେଠାରେ ମହାମୁନି ମୈତ୍ରେୟ ଅବସ୍ଥିତ ଥିଲେ।

Synonyms

• kālindyāḥ: from the Kālin(dī) (Yamunā)
• kālindyāḥ: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālindī (कालिन्दी प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी) or Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); here best as Ablative with prāpadyata: ‘from the Kālin(dī)’

• katibhiḥ: by how many
• katibhiḥ: Karana (करण/Measure)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kati (कति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative/indefinite numeral adjective; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• siddha: O perfected one
• siddha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddha (सिद्ध प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• ahobhiḥ: by days
• ahobhiḥ: Karana (करण/Measure of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahas (अहस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bharata-ṛṣabha: O bull among the Bharatas
• bharata-ṛṣabha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (भरत प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (ऋषभ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāpadyata: reached, arrived
• prāpadyata: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prā-√pad (प्र-आ-पद् धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• svaḥ-saritam: the heavenly river (Gaṅgā)
• svaḥ-saritam: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svaḥ (स्वः/स्वर्ग प्रातिपदिक) + sarit (सरित् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• mitrā-sutaḥ: the son of Mitrā
• mitrā-sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitrā (मित्रा प्रातिपदिक) + suta (सुत प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• muniḥ: the sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (मुनि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to mitrā-sutaḥ

Purport

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Third Canto, Fourth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Vidura Approaches Maitreya.”

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Uddhava
• Maitreya
• Yamuna (Kalindi)

FAQs

Who is the 'son of Mitrā' (mitrāsuta) mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 3.4.36?

It refers to Maitreya Rishi, a great sage associated with transmitting Bhagavata wisdom, here described as residing near the Yamunā.

Why does Vidura ask about reaching the Yamunā and meeting Maitreya?

Vidura is eager to hear transcendental knowledge and the Lord’s pastimes; he asks Uddhava for the timeline and location so he can understand how the seeker approaches a realized sage in the narrative.

What is a practical lesson from this verse for modern spiritual life?

Seek genuine guidance by approaching saintly teachers and sacred teachings with sincere inquiry, patience, and respect for time, place, and proper association (satsaṅga).