Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

शुक्रस्तमाह कुपित: स्त्रीकामानृतपूरुष । त्वां जरा विशतां मन्द विरूपकरणी नृणाम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

śukras tam āha kupitaḥ strī-kāmānṛta-pūruṣa tvāṁ jarā viśatāṁ manda virūpa-karaṇī nṛṇām

Translation

శుక్రాచార్యుడు తీవ్రంగా కోపించి అన్నాడు— “స్త్రీకామాసక్తుడా, అసత్యపురుషుడా, మూర్ఖుడా! నిన్ను జరా ఆవరించుగాక; అది మనుష్యులను వికృతరూపుల్ని చేసి అశక్తులను చేస్తుంది।”

Synonyms

• śukraḥ: Shukracharya
• śukraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śukra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tam: him (Yayati)
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āha: said
• āha: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ah) (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Singular

• kupitaḥ: angry
• kupitaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kupita (kup) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past Passive Participle (Kta), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• strīkāmānṛtapūruṣa: O man untruthful due to lust for women
• strīkāmānṛtapūruṣa: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strīkāmānṛtapūruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• jarā: old age
• jarā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• viśatām: let it enter/afflict
• viśatām: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: viś (धातु)
• Form: Lot Lakara (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Singular

• manda: O fool/dull-witted one
• manda: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• virūpakaraṇī: disfiguring/destroying beauty
• virūpakaraṇī: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virūpakaraṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nṛṇām: of men/humans
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

Characters & Entities

• Śukrācārya
• Yayāti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about lust and its consequences?

This verse shows that uncontrolled desire (strī-kāma) and deceit lead to immediate suffering—symbolized by the sudden onset of old age—highlighting how adharma quickly brings painful reactions.

Why did Shukracharya curse King Yayati in Bhagavatam 9.18?

Śukrācārya, angered by Yayāti’s lust-driven wrongdoing and dishonesty, pronounced a curse that old age would enter him at once, teaching that violating dharma invites swift karmic consequence.

How can this Bhagavatam verse be applied in modern life?

Practice truthfulness and restraint in relationships; when desire pushes one toward deception, pause and choose dharma—because unchecked lust and dishonesty degrade character and bring suffering.