Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 29

Ikṣvāku Dynasty: Vikukṣi’s Offense, Purañjaya’s Victory, Māndhātā’s Birth, and Saubhari’s Fall and Renunciation

Devanagari script

राज्ञा पीतं विदित्वा वै ईश्वरप्रहितेन ते । ईश्वराय नमश्चक्रुरहो दैवबलं बलम् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

rājñā pītaṁ viditvā vai īśvara-prahitena te īśvarāya namaś cakrur aho daiva-balaṁ balam

Translation

Поняв, что царь выпил эту воду по вдохновению Верховного Владыки, брахманы поклонились Господу и воскликнули: «Увы! Сила Провидения — подлинная сила; кто способен противостоять могуществу Всевышнего?»

Synonyms

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पीतम्: (it was) drunk
• पीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु) + पीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘drunk’ (object understood: जलम्)

• विदित्वा: having understood
• विदित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having known’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/उपपादक (indeed)

• ईश्वरप्रहितेन: sent by the Lord
• ईश्वरप्रहितेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश्वर-प्रहित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (contextual), तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—ईश्वरैः प्रहितम् (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष) / ईश्वरस्य प्रहितम्; विशेषण (कर्म/कारण)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (ऋषयः)

• ईश्वराय: to the Lord
• ईश्वराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक (salutation particle), प्रायः चतुर्थी-संबन्धे प्रयुज्यते

• चक्रुः: they made/offered
• चक्रुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहो: ah!
• अहो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विस्मयार्थक (exclamation)

• दैवबलम्: the power of fate/divinity
• दैवबलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—दैवस्य बलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• बलम्: (what) power!
• बलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (पुनरुक्ति/उपमा-बलवर्धन)

Characters & Entities

• Īśvara (the Supreme Lord)
• the King (rājā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about destiny (daiva) and God’s will?

This verse states that what appears as destiny is ultimately arranged by Īśvara; recognizing this, devotees bow to the Lord and acknowledge the overwhelming power of divine providence.

Why did they offer obeisances to Īśvara after learning the king drank it?

Because they understood the event was not merely accidental but divinely ordained; their response was devotional surrender—offering respect to the Supreme Controller behind the outcome.

How can I apply this teaching about daiva in modern life?

When outcomes are beyond control, respond with humility and faith—do your duty responsibly, but accept results as ultimately under the Lord’s arrangement, avoiding resentment and cultivating surrender.