Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 40

Bhagīratha Brings Gaṅgā; Saudāsa’s Curse; Khaṭvāṅga’s Instant Renunciation

Devanagari script

अश्मकाद्ब‍ालिको जज्ञे य: स्त्रीभि: परिरक्षित: । नारीकवच इत्युक्तो नि:क्षत्रे मूलकोऽभवत् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

aśmakād bāliko jajñe yaḥ strībhiḥ parirakṣitaḥ nārī-kavaca ity ukto niḥkṣatre mūlako ’bhavat

Translation

Mula kay Asmaka, ipinanganak si Balika. Dahil si Balika ay napaligiran ng mga babae at samakatuwid ay naligtas mula sa galit ni Parasurama, siya ay nakilala bilang Narikavaca. Nang matalo ni Parasurama ang lahat ng mga ksatria, si Balika ang naging ninuno ng mas maraming ksatria. Kaya siya ay nakilala bilang Mulaka.

Synonyms

• अश्मकात्: from Aśmaka
• अश्मकात्: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• बालिकः: Bālika
• बालिकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जज्ञे: was born
• जज्ञे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• स्त्रीभिः: by women
• स्त्रीभिः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• परिरक्षितः: protected
• परिरक्षितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; परि-उपसर्ग

• नारीकवचः: (one who is) a ‘women’s armor’
• नारीकवचः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक) + कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘नारीणां कवचः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यादि-निपात (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: called/said
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन

• निःक्षत्रे: when there were no kṣatriyas
• निःक्षत्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निःक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘क्षत्र-रहिते’ (in the state of no Kṣatriyas)

• मूलकः: Mūlaka
• मूलकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Aśmaka
• Nārī-kavaca
• Mūlaka

FAQs

Who is Nārī-kavaca in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

Nārī-kavaca is the son born to King Aśmaka who was protected by women; he is also known as Mūlaka, described as the restorer (root) of the kṣatriya line when kṣatriyas were nearly absent.

Why is Mūlaka called Nārī-kavaca in Bhagavata Purana 9.9.40?

He is called Nārī-kavaca because women guarded and protected him like an armor (kavaca), ensuring his survival.

What practical lesson does Bhagavatam 9.9.40 teach for modern life?

Even in times of decline, divine arrangement and sincere protection can preserve dharma—support systems (family/community) can safeguard what is valuable and help restore stability.