Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 29

Dadhīci’s Supreme Charity and the Opening of Indra’s War with Vṛtrāsura

Devanagari script

ते स्वप्रयासं वितथं निरीक्ष्य हरावभक्ता हतयुद्धदर्पा: । पलायनायाजिमुखे विसृज्य पतिं मनस्ते दधुरात्तसारा: ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

te sva-prayāsaṁ vitathaṁ nirīkṣya harāv abhaktā hata-yuddha-darpāḥ palāyanāyāji-mukhe visṛjya patiṁ manas te dadhur ātta-sārāḥ

Translation

Os asuras, que jamais são devotos de Hari, Kṛṣṇa, ao verem seus esforços vãos, perderam o orgulho de lutar. Abandonando seu líder logo no início do combate, decidiram fugir, pois o inimigo lhes havia tirado toda a força.

Synonyms

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; sarvanāma

• sva-prayāsam: their own effort
• sva-prayāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + prayāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (acc, 2nd), Ekavacana (sg); ‘one’s own effort’

• vitatham: futile
• vitatham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vitatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of sva-prayāsam

• nirīkṣya: having seen
• nirīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-īkṣ (धातु) + lyap (कृत्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having seen/observed’

• harau: in/with regard to Hari
• harau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• abhaktāḥ: not devoted
• abhaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of te

• hata-yuddha-darpāḥ: with battle-pride crushed
• hata-yuddha-darpāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (kṛdanta from han) + yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + darpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ‘whose pride in battle was destroyed’

• palāyanāya: for fleeing
• palāyanāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) / Prayojana
• Type: Noun
• Root: palāyana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), Caturthī (dat, 4th), Ekavacana; purpose

• āji-mukhe: at the battle-front
• āji-mukhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āji (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī, Ekavacana; ‘at the face/front of battle’

• visṛjya: having abandoned
• visṛjya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-sṛj (धातु) + lyap (कृत्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having abandoned/left’

• patim: their leader/lord
• patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of dadhur

• te: of them
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (gen, 6th), Bahuvacana; ‘of them’

• dadhur: placed/held
• dadhur: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana

• ātta-sārāḥ: bereft of courage/strength
• ātta-sārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātta (kṛdanta from ā-dā) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; bahuvrīhi: ‘those whose essence/courage is taken away’

Characters & Entities

• Hari

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about courage without devotion to Hari?

This verse says that those without devotion to Hari, when their efforts fail, quickly lose their battle-pride and inner strength, becoming inclined to flee.

Why did the fighters abandon their leader on the battlefield in Canto 6 Chapter 10?

Because their attempts proved futile and their confidence collapsed; lacking devotion to Hari, they lost steadiness and deserted their commander in fear.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

When plans fail, bhakti-centered steadiness helps one remain courageous and responsible, instead of panicking, blaming others, or abandoning duties.