Shloka 16

Indra’s Brahma-hatyā, Flight from Sin, and Purification by Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

तावत्‍त्रिणाकं नहुष: शशास विद्यातपोयोगबलानुभाव: । स सम्पदैश्वर्यमदान्धबुद्धि- र्नीतस्तिरश्चां गतिमिन्द्रपत्‍न्या ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

tāvat triṇākaṁ nahuṣaḥ śaśāsa vidyā-tapo-yoga-balānubhāvaḥ sa sampad-aiśvarya-madāndha-buddhir nītas tiraścāṁ gatim indra-patnyā

Translation

ఇంద్రుడు దాక్కున్న సమయంలో, నహుషుడు తన తపోబలంతో స్వర్గాన్ని పాలించాడు. కానీ ఐశ్వర్య మదంతో కళ్ళు మూసుకుపోయి, ఇంద్రాణిని కోరుకుని, శాపవశాత్తు పాముగా మారాడు.

Synonyms

• तावत्: then, for that long
• तावत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb) = so long/then

• त्रिणाकम्: heaven
• त्रिणाकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिणाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्वर्ग (heaven)

• नहुषः: Nahuṣa
• नहुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नहुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शशास: ruled
• शशास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शास् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विद्या-तपस्-योग-बल-अनुभावः: one whose might came from learning, austerity, yoga, and strength
• विद्या-तपस्-योग-बल-अनुभावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या + तपस् + योग + बल + अनुभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (whose power/effect is due to knowledge, austerity, yoga, and strength); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सम्पत्-ऐश्वर्य-मद-अन्ध-बुद्धिः: one whose intellect was blinded by wealth, power, and pride
• सम्पत्-ऐश्वर्य-मद-अन्ध-बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्पत् + ऐश्वर्य + मद + अन्ध + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (whose mind was blinded by prosperity, sovereignty, and pride); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नीतः: was led
• नीतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘नीत’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

• तिरश्चाम्: of animals
• तिरश्चाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिरश्च् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘तिर्यक्’ = animals

• गतिम्: state, course, destination
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इन्द्र-पत्न्या: by Indra’s wife (Śacī)
• इन्द्र-पत्न्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Nahuṣa
• Indra
• Śacī (Indra-patnī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pride caused by opulence?

This verse says that even one empowered by knowledge, austerity, and yoga can fall when blinded by the intoxication of prosperity and sovereignty.

How did Nahusha fall from ruling heaven according to Bhagavatam 6.13?

Though he ruled Svarga by great acquired power, his pride made him lose proper judgment, and he was brought to a degraded, animal-like state through the agency of Indra’s wife, Śacī.

What is a practical lesson from Nahusha’s story for modern life?

Power and success should be guarded by humility; otherwise, pride can destroy discernment and lead to rapid downfall despite one’s abilities or achievements.