Shloka 33

Nārada Instructs Dakṣa’s Sons; Allegory of the World; Dakṣa Curses Nārada

Devanagari script

सध्रीचीनं प्रतीचीनं परस्यानुपथं गता: । नाद्यापि ते निवर्तन्ते पश्चिमा यामिनीरिव ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

sadhrīcīnaṁ pratīcīnaṁ parasyānupathaṁ gatāḥ nādyāpi te nivartante paścimā yāminīr iva

Translation

సవలాశ్వులు సరైన మార్గాన్ని ఆశ్రయించారు—భక్తిసేవను సాధించే జీవనరీతితో గాని, పరమపురుషోత్తముని కృపతో గాని లభించే మార్గాన్ని. పడమరకు వెళ్లిన రాత్రుల వలె వారు ఇప్పటికీ తిరిగి రాలేదు.

Synonyms

• सध्रीचीनम्: toward the right/forward
• सध्रीचीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + ध्रीचीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभाव (सध्रीचीनम् = in the right/forward direction)

• प्रतीचीनम्: toward the west/backward
• प्रतीचीनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतीचीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• परस्य: of another/others
• परस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• अनुपथम्: along the path; following the track
• अनुपथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); अव्ययीभाव (अनुपथम् = along the path/after the path)

• गताः: having gone
• गताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time: today/now)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (even/also)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• निवर्तन्ते: return/turn back
• निवर्तन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: नि

• पश्चिमाः: western
• पश्चिमाः: Upamāna-dharma (उपमानधर्म/qualifier of yāminīḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यामिनीः: nights
• यामिनीः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

Characters & Entities

• Nārada Muni
• Haryaśvas (sons of Dakṣa)
• Dakṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about not returning after taking the spiritual path?

This verse says that those who have truly followed the path leading to the Supreme do not return to their former material course—like past nights that can never be retrieved.

Why did Nārada Muni say this to the sons of Dakṣa (the Haryaśvas)?

Nārada instructed them in renunciation and devotion; having taken his guidance, they left worldly plans behind, and this verse states that they did not come back to resume Dakṣa’s material program.

How can I apply the teaching of this shloka in modern life?

Treat time as irreversible and prioritize steady spiritual practice—once you choose devotion and inner discipline, don’t drift back into old habits that consume life without lasting benefit.