Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 10

Mohinī-mūrti Distributes Amṛta; Rāhu is Severed; Results Differ by Shelter

Devanagari script

सालावृकाणां स्त्रीणां च स्वैरिणीनां सुरद्विष: । सख्यान्याहुरनित्यानि नूत्नं नूत्नं विचिन्वताम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

sālāvṛkāṇāṁ strīṇāṁ ca svairiṇīnāṁ sura-dviṣaḥ sakhyāny āhur anityāni nūtnaṁ nūtnaṁ vicinvatām

Translation

ఓ సురద్విషులైన దైత్యులారా! కోతులు, నక్కలు, కుక్కలు కామసంబంధాలలో చంచలమై ప్రతిరోజూ కొత్త కొత్త స్నేహితులను వెదుకుతాయి; అలాగే స్వైరిణీ స్త్రీలు కూడా నిత్యం కొత్త మిత్రులను కోరుకుంటారు. అటువంటి స్త్రీతో స్నేహం శాశ్వతం కాదు—ఇది పండితుల అభిప్రాయం.

Synonyms

• sālāvṛkāṇām: of jackals
• sālāvṛkāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sālāvṛka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी) Plural

• strīṇām: of women
• strīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• svairiṇīnām: of wanton women
• svairiṇīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svairiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive Plural

• sura-dviṣaḥ: O haters of the gods (demons)
• sura-dviṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + dviṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Plural; तत्पुरुष: surān dviṣanti iti (haters of the gods)

• sakhyāni: friendships
• sakhyāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sakhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Plural (प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन); object-complement with āhuḥ

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person Plural (बहुवचन)

• anityāni: impermanent
• anityāni: Karma (कर्म) (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Plural; agrees with sakhyāni

• nūtnam: newly
• nūtnam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nūtna (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (द्वितीया-प्रयोग as क्रियाविशेषण)

• nūtnam: again and again anew
• nūtnam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nūtna (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Adverbial accusative; repetition for emphasis

• vicinvatām: of those who keep seeking (new ones)
• vicinvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√ci (चि धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) in Genitive Plural (षष्ठी बहुवचन) used as dependent genitive: 'of those who seek/choose'

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī-mūrti
• Rāhu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about unstable friendships based on sense enjoyment?

This verse says such friendships are temporary—like those of jackals or the sensual-minded—because they constantly look for new association and pleasure.

Why did Mohinī-mūrti speak this to Rāhu in Canto 8 Chapter 9?

Rāhu tried to claim a share among the devas; Mohinī rebukes the asuric mentality by pointing out the unreliability and self-interest that governs such alliances.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Choose relationships grounded in character, dharma, and devotion rather than novelty and gratification; cultivate steady association (satsaṅga) instead of chasing constant new excitement.