Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 6

Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच एकदा दानवेन्द्रस्य शर्मिष्ठा नाम कन्यका । सखीसहस्रसंयुक्ता गुरुपुत्र्या च भामिनी ॥ ६ ॥ देवयान्या पुरोद्याने पुष्पितद्रुमसङ्कुले । व्यचरत्कलगीतालिनलिनीपुलिनेऽबला ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca ekadā dānavendrasya śarmiṣṭhā nāma kanyakā sakhī-sahasra-saṁyuktā guru-putryā ca bhāminī

Translation

ศรีศุกเทวะกล่าวว่า—วันหนึ่ง ศรมิษฐา ธิดาแห่งวฤษปัรวาเจ้าแห่งทานวะ ผู้ไร้เดียงสาแต่มีอารมณ์ฉุน เดินเล่นในสวนพระราชวังร่วมกับเทวยานี ธิดาแห่งศุกราจารย์ และสหายอีกนับพัน สวนนั้นเต็มด้วยดอกบัว ไม้ดอกไม้ผล และนกกับภมรที่ขับขานไพเราะ

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (honorific); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: once)

• दानव-इन्द्रस्य: of the lord of the Dānavas
• दानव-इन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शर्मिष्ठा: Śarmiṣṭhā
• शर्मिष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्मिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नामार्थक-निपात (indeclinable: 'by name')

• कन्यका: a maiden
• कन्यका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'शर्मिष्ठा' इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

• सखी-सहस्र-संयुक्ता: accompanied by a thousand friends
• सखी-सहस्र-संयुक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (युज् धातु + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'कन्यका/शर्मिष्ठा' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गुरु-पुत्र्या: with the guru's daughter
• गुरु-पुत्र्या: Saha (सह/साकम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भामिनी: the proud/beautiful lady
• भामिनी: Saha (सह/साकम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भामिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'गुरु-पुत्र्या' इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन (Devayānī implied)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Śarmiṣṭhā
• Devayānī
• Dānavendra (King of the Dānavas)

FAQs

Who is Śarmiṣṭhā in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

Śarmiṣṭhā is introduced here as the daughter of the king of the Dānavas, moving with her companions and associated in the narrative with Devayānī, the guru’s daughter.

Why are Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā mentioned together in Canto 9 Chapter 18?

This verse sets the scene for their interaction—two prominent young women (the guru’s daughter and the Dānava king’s daughter) whose relationship becomes pivotal to the Yayāti episode.

What practical lesson does this verse hint at for modern life?

It foreshadows how pride and social identity can shape relationships and trigger major consequences—encouraging humility and careful conduct.