Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 16

Pradyumna’s Abduction, Mahā-māyā, and the Slaying of Śambara

Devanagari script

प्रभाष्यैवं ददौ विद्यां प्रद्युम्नाय महात्मने । मायावती महामायां सर्वमायाविनाशिनीम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

prabhāṣyaivaṁ dadau vidyāṁ pradyumnāya mahātmane māyāvatī mahā-māyāṁ sarva-māyā-vināśinīm

Translation

[ਸ਼ੁਕਦੇਵ ਗੋਸਵਾਮੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ:] ਇਉਂ ਕਹਿ ਕੇ ਮਾਯਾਵਤੀ ਨੇ ਮਹਾਤਮਾ ਪ੍ਰਦ੍ਯੁਮਨ ਨੂੰ ‘ਮਹਾ-ਮਾਯਾ’ ਨਾਮ ਦੀ ਵਿਦਿਆ ਦਿੱਤੀ, ਜੋ ਸਭ ਮੋਹਣੀਆਂ ਮਾਯਾਵਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਨਾਸ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ।

Synonyms

• प्रभाष्य: having spoken
• प्रभाष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + भाष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund), ‘having spoken’

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विद्याम्: knowledge/skill
• विद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रद्युम्नाय: to Pradyumna
• प्रद्युम्नाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महात्मने: to the great-souled one
• महात्मने: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to प्रद्युम्नाय)

• मायावती: Māyāvatī
• मायावती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायावती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महा-मायाम्: the great magic (science)
• महा-मायाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘महती माया’

• सर्व-माया-विनाशिनीम्: destroying all magical powers
• सर्व-माया-विनाशिनीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘सर्वासां मायानां विनाशिनी’ (destroyer of all magic)

Characters & Entities

• Māyāvatī
• Pradyumna

FAQs

What is Mahāmāyā in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.55?

In this verse, Mahāmāyā refers to a powerful counter-mystic knowledge taught by Māyāvatī to Pradyumna—described as the means that destroys all other deceptive magical powers (māyās).

Why did Māyāvatī teach Pradyumna the power to destroy illusions?

Because Pradyumna was facing the demon Śambara, who relied on mystic deception; Māyāvatī equipped Pradyumna with the knowledge needed to neutralize those illusions and prevail.

How can this teaching about destroying māyā be applied in modern life?

It points to seeking higher, truth-revealing knowledge and divine guidance that dispels भ्रम (delusion)—cultivating discernment, steadiness, and devotion rather than being driven by misleading appearances.