Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 17

Genealogies of Svāyambhuva Manu, the Appearance of Yajña, and Atri’s Sons

Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Śiva Expansions

Devanagari script

मैत्रेय उवाच ब्रह्मणा चोदित: सृष्टावत्रिर्ब्रह्मविदां वर: । सह पत्‍न्या ययावृक्षं कुलाद्रिं तपसि स्थित: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

maitreya uvāca brahmaṇā coditaḥ sṛṣṭāv atrir brahma-vidāṁ varaḥ saha patnyā yayāv ṛkṣaṁ kulādriṁ tapasi sthitaḥ

Translation

ไมเตรยะกล่าวว่า: เมื่อพระพรหมทรงมีบัญชาให้อัตริฤๅษี ผู้ประเสริฐในหมู่นักรู้พรหมะ สร้างสืบสายหลังจากอภิเษกกับอนสูยา อัตริและภรรยาจึงไปยังหุบเขาแห่งภูเขาที่ชื่อว่า ฤกษะ และตั้งมั่นในตบะอันเข้มงวด

Synonyms

• maitreyaḥ: Maitreya
• maitreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maitreya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• brahmaṇā: by Brahmā
• brahmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• coditaḥ: impelled, instructed
• coditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: codita (कृदन्त; √cud/√cod धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle): 'impelled/commanded'

• sṛṣṭau: in (the work of) creation
• sṛṣṭau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• atriḥ: Atri
• atriḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• brahma-vidām: of the knowers of Brahman
• brahma-vidām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्म विदन्ति ये (knowers of Brahman)

• varaḥ: the best
• varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक उपपद (with; governs instrumental)

• patnyā: with (his) wife
• patnyā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• ṛkṣam: to Ṛkṣa (mountain/forest)
• ṛkṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• kulādrim: the Kulādri (mountain)
• kulādrim: Karma (कर्म/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kulādri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); apposition to ṛkṣam

• tapasi: in austerity
• tapasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/State)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• sthitaḥ: remaining, situated
• sthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (कृदन्त; √sthā धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकृदन्त (past participle): 'standing/remaining'

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Brahmā
• Atri
• Atri’s wife (Anasūyā)

FAQs

Why did Sage Atri go to Ṛkṣa Mountain in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

Because Brahmā instructed him to assist in creation, and Atri went with his wife to Ṛkṣa Mountain to perform intense austerities (tapasya) as part of that divine purpose.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavata Purana 4.1.17?

The speaker is Maitreya Rishi, narrating the events to Vidura in the Fourth Canto.

What is the practical lesson of Atri’s tapasya for modern life?

The verse highlights disciplined spiritual practice and responsibility—aligning one’s effort with a higher purpose, and using steady austerity and self-control to accomplish meaningful duties.