Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 30

Paraśurāma Avenges Jamadagni; Restoration Through Sacrifice; Viśvāmitra’s Line and Devarāta (Śunaḥśepha)

Devanagari script

पुत्रं कृत्वा शुन:शेफं देवरातं च भार्गवम् । आजीगर्तं सुतानाह ज्येष्ठ एष प्रकल्प्यताम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

putraṁ kṛtvā śunaḥśephaṁ devarātaṁ ca bhārgavam ājīgartaṁ sutān āha jyeṣṭha eṣa prakalpyatām

Translation

วิศวามิตรรับศุนหเศฟะ บุตรของอชีครตะ ผู้เกิดในวงศ์ภฤคุและมีนามว่าเทวราตะ เป็นบุตรของตน แล้วรับสั่งแก่โอรสอื่นๆ ว่า “จงยอมรับเขาเป็นพี่ใหญ่”

Synonyms

• पुत्रम्: as a son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made/accepted
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• शुनःशेफम्: Śunaḥśepha
• शुनःशेफम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुनःशेफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• देवरातम्: Devarāta
• देवरातम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवरात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• भार्गवम्: the Bhārgava (descendant of Bhṛgu)
• भार्गवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भार्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गोत्र/वंश-विशेषण (descendant of Bhṛgu)

• आजीगर्तम्: Ājīgarta
• आजीगर्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आजीगर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• सुतान्: sons
• सुतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आह: said
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; ‘आह’ as perfect of √अह्/√ब्रू in sense ‘said’)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठः: eldest
• ज्येष्ठः: Kartṛ-sāmānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-सामानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• एषः: this one
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रकल्प्यताम्: let (him) be appointed/considered
• प्रकल्प्यताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√कॢप् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘let him be appointed/considered’

Characters & Entities

• Śunaḥśepha
• Devarāta
• Ajīgarta
• Bhārgava (lineage of Bhṛgu)

FAQs

Who is Devarāta (Śunaḥśepha) in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 9?

Devarāta is Śunaḥśepha, identified here as a Bhārgava; in this verse he is accepted as a son and declared the eldest among Ajīgarta’s sons.

Why did Ajīgarta declare Śunaḥśepha as the eldest?

After accepting Śunaḥśepha (Devarāta) as his son, Ajīgarta formally established his status in the family by designating him the eldest, ensuring recognized position and inheritance within the household order.

What is a practical lesson from this shloka for modern life?

The verse highlights the importance of clearly honoring commitments and giving rightful social standing—acting responsibly to protect dignity, identity, and duty within relationships.