Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 15

Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire

Devanagari script

एवं क्षिपन्तीं शर्मिष्ठा गुरुपुत्रीमभाषत । रुषा श्वसन्त्युरङ्गीव धर्षिता दष्टदच्छदा ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ kṣipantīṁ śarmiṣṭhā guru-putrīm abhāṣata ruṣā śvasanty uraṅgīva dharṣitā daṣṭa-dacchadā

Translation

శుకదేవ గోస్వామి ఇలా అన్నారు: ఈ విధంగా క్రూరమైన మాటలతో నిందించబడినప్పుడు, శర్మిష్ఠ చాలా కోపగించుకుంది. పాములాగా గట్టిగా ఊపిరి పీల్చుకుంటూ మరియు తన పళ్ళతో తన క్రింది పెదవిని కొరుకుతూ, ఆమె శుక్రాచార్యుని కుమార్తెతో ఈ విధంగా మాట్లాడింది.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• kṣipantīm: (her) who was insulting/taunting
• kṣipantīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣip (धातु) → kṣipantī (कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; qualifies guru-putrīm

• śarmiṣṭhā: Śarmiṣṭhā
• śarmiṣṭhā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarmiṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• guru-putrīm: the preceptor’s daughter
• guru-putrīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + putrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'daughter of the guru'

• abhāṣata: spoke
• abhāṣata: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular

• ruṣā: with anger
• ruṣā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ruṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; 'with anger'

• śvasantī: breathing hard
• śvasantī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śvas (धातु) → śvasantī (कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; qualifies śarmiṣṭhā

• uraṅgīva: like a serpent
• uraṅgīva: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Simile)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uraṅgī (प्रातिपदिक) + iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparison phrase: noun + iva (उपमा)

• dharṣitā: insulted/outraged
• dharṣitā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛṣ (धातु) → dharṣita (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; qualifies śarmiṣṭhā

• daṣṭa-dacchadā: whose garment was torn/bitten
• daṣṭa-dacchadā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṣṭa (कृदन्त, क्त; from daṁś धातु) + dacchadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; बहुव्रीहि: 'she whose garment (chadā) is bitten/torn' (epithet)

Characters & Entities

• Śarmiṣṭhā
• Devayānī
• Śukrācārya

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the danger of harsh speech?

This verse portrays how biting words inflame anger—Śarmiṣṭhā reacts “like a serpent,” showing that insults can quickly escalate conflict and lead to sinful actions.

Why did Śarmiṣṭhā respond angrily to Devayānī?

Devayānī was repeatedly insulting her; feeling deeply affronted, Śarmiṣṭhā—overcome by rage—replied, setting the stage for the ensuing incident in their narrative.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Avoid retaliating to provocation with sharp words; pause before responding, because reactive speech multiplies conflict and can trigger consequences far beyond the original offense.