Shloka 1

Vṛtrāsura Rebukes Indra; Heroic Combat and the Asura’s Pure Devotional Prayers

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच त एवं शंसतो धर्मं वच: पत्युरचेतस: । नैवागृह्णन्त सम्भ्रान्ता: पलायनपरा नृप ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca ta evaṁ śaṁsato dharmaṁ vacaḥ patyur acetasaḥ naivāgṛhṇanta sambhrāntāḥ palāyana-parā nṛpa

Translation

ศรีศุกเทวะ โคสวามีตรัสว่า: ข้าแต่พระราชา วฤตราสุระ แม่ทัพแห่งอสูร ได้ตักเตือนผู้ใต้บังคับบัญชาด้วยหลักธรรม แต่บรรดาผู้บัญชาการอสูรผู้ขลาด ตั้งใจจะหนีจากสนามรบ กลับหวาดกลัวจนสับสนและไม่อาจรับถ้อยคำของเขาได้

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् शुकः)

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

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• śaṁsataḥ: of (him) who was proclaiming
• śaṁsataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śaṁs (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त/Present active participle), षष्ठी (Genitive) एकवचन/द्विवचन?; here: षष्ठी एकवचन ‘of (him) who was praising/declaring’

• dharmam: duty/righteousness
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• vacaḥ: words/speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• patyuḥ: of the husband/lord
• patyuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• acetasaḥ: of the senseless/unmindful (one)
• acetasaḥ: Viseṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकारार्थ (a-): ‘unthinking’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• eva: indeed/at all
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• agṛhṇanta: they accepted/took (heed)
• agṛhṇanta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√grah (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; उपसर्ग: आ-

• sambhrāntāḥ: confused/agitated
• sambhrāntāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sambhrānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• palāyana-parāḥ: intent on fleeing
• palāyana-parāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: palāyana (प्रातिपदिक) + para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (पलायने पराः)

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit
• Śukadeva Gosvāmī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about understanding dharma during fear or crisis?

This verse shows that when the mind is overwhelmed by fear and confusion, even correct instruction on dharma may not be received; inner steadiness is needed to grasp spiritual guidance.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Parīkṣit as 'nṛpa' (O King) here?

Śukadeva is narrating the episode to King Parīkṣit, emphasizing that the lesson—how people react under danger and how dharma can be forgotten—has practical relevance for a ruler and for all listeners.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life when we feel anxious or panicked?

When panic arises, first regain composure (pause, pray, remember Bhagavān, seek clarity); only then can wise counsel be understood and acted upon instead of reacting impulsively.