Shloka 9

Nārada’s Past Life, the Lord’s Brief Vision, and the Power of Kīrtana

Devanagari script

एकदा निर्गतां गेहाद्दुहन्तीं निशि गां पथि । सर्पोऽदशत्पदा स्पृष्ट: कृपणां कालचोदित: ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

ekadā nirgatāṁ gehād duhantīṁ niśi gāṁ pathi sarpo ’daśat padā spṛṣṭaḥ kṛpaṇāṁ kāla-coditaḥ

Translation

ครั้งหนึ่งมารดาผู้น่าสงสารของข้าพเจ้าออกจากเรือนยามค่ำคืนเพื่อไปรีดนมวัว ระหว่างทางถูกงูกัดที่ขา ด้วยแรงดลใจแห่งกาลอันยิ่งใหญ่

Synonyms

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

• निर्गताम्: having gone out
• निर्गताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘gone out’

• गेहात्: from the house
• गेहात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• दुहन्तीम्: milking
• दुहन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दुह् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘milking’

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• गाम्: a cow
• गाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सर्पः: a snake
• सर्पः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अदशत्: bit
• अदशत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दंश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पदा: with the foot
• पदा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• स्पृष्टः: having been touched
• स्पृष्टः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘touched’

• कृपणाम्: the poor wretched (woman)
• कृपणाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (to implied ‘her’)

• कालचोदितः: impelled by time (fate)
• कालचोदितः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल + चोदित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: कालेन चोदितः (impelled by time/fate)

Purport

That is the way of dragging a sincere soul nearer to God. The poor boy was being looked after only by his affectionate mother, and yet the mother was taken from the world by the supreme will in order to put him completely at the mercy of the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Nārada Muni

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about kāla (Time) causing events?

This verse uses the phrase kāla-coditaḥ—“impelled by Time”—to show that worldly happenings unfold under the higher governance of Time, which drives the results of karma and brings sudden reversals.

Why is this incident described in Canto 1 Chapter 6?

Śukadeva recounts Nārada’s early life to illustrate how intense life-shocks and the force of Time can awaken detachment, pushing a soul toward spiritual pursuit and devotion.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Remember life’s uncertainty and avoid complacency—use setbacks to cultivate detachment, deepen prayerful remembrance, and prioritize bhakti over temporary arrangements.