Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 8

Lord Rāmacandra’s Charity, Sītā’s Departure, and the Lord’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

कदाचिल्लोकजिज्ञासुर्गूढो रात्र्यामलक्षित: । चरन्वाचोऽश‍ृणोद् रामो भार्यामुद्दिश्य कस्यचित् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

kadācil loka-jijñāsur gūḍho rātryām alakṣitaḥ caran vāco ’śṛṇod rāmo bhāryām uddiśya kasyacit

Translation

ศุกเทว โคสวามี กล่าวต่อว่า ครั้งหนึ่งพระรามจันทราทรงประสงค์จะทราบความเห็นของประชาชน จึงเสด็จยามราตรีโดยปลอมพระองค์อย่างลับๆ ไม่ให้ผู้ใดรู้จัก แล้วทรงได้ยินชายคนหนึ่งกล่าววาจาไม่เป็นมงคลเกี่ยวกับพระมเหสี สีตาเทวี

Synonyms

• कदाचित्: once, at some time
• कदाचित्: कालाधिकरण (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा + चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• लोकजिज्ञासुः: desiring to know (the state of) the people
• लोकजिज्ञासुः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक-जिज्ञासु (प्रातिपदिक; लोक + जिज्ञासु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समास (desirous to know the people/world)

• गूढः: hidden, in disguise
• गूढः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गूढ (प्रातिपदिक; √गुह् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; भूतकृदन्त (hidden)

• रात्र्याम्: at night
• रात्र्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्

• अलक्षितः: unnoticed
• अलक्षितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-लक्षित (प्रातिपदिक; √लक्ष् + क्त, नञ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; भूतकृदन्त (unnoticed)

• चरन्: walking, roaming
• चरन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; रामः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वाचः: words, speech
• वाचः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचनम् (वाचः = वाचस्-शब्दस्य द्वितीया-बहुवचनम्)

• अशृणोत्: heard
• अशृणोत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of ‘pointing to’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• उद्दिश्य: referring to, pointing out
• उद्दिश्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; पूर्वक्रिया (having indicated/with reference to)

• कस्यचित्: of someone
• कस्यचित्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्; अनिश्चितार्थक-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Sītā

FAQs

Why did Lord Rama go out in disguise at night in Srimad Bhagavatam?

To understand the feelings and opinions of the citizens directly, Lord Rāma went out unnoticed at night and listened to public talk.

What does this verse reveal about rajadharma (the duty of a king)?

It shows that an ideal ruler carefully monitors the welfare and sentiments of the people, even personally, to uphold dharma in the kingdom.

How can devotees apply this teaching in modern life?

Act responsibly in one’s roles by listening sincerely to feedback, staying humble, and aligning decisions with dharma rather than ego.