Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 9

Nārada Instructs Dakṣa’s Sons; Allegory of the World; Dakṣa Curses Nārada

Devanagari script

कथं स्वपितुरादेशमविद्वांसो विपश्चित: । अनुरूपमविज्ञाय अहो सर्गं करिष्यथ ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

kathaṁ sva-pitur ādeśam avidvāṁso vipaścitaḥ anurūpam avijñāya aho sargaṁ kariṣyatha

Translation

Ay, sa aba! Hindi ninyo nalalaman ang tunay na diwa ng utos ng inyong ama. Ang ama ay marunong sa lahat, ngunit kung hindi ninyo nauunawaan ang kanyang layon at hindi ninyo alam ang angkop na paraan, paano kayo lilikha ng supling?

Synonyms

• katham: how
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नाव्यय)

• sva-pituḥ: of your own father
• sva-pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; 'of one’s own father'

• ādeśam: command
• ādeśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• avidvāṁsaḥ: ignorant (persons)
• avidvāṁsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vidvas (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √vid (धातु) with suffix -vas, negated)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; predicative to implied 'you'

• vipaścitaḥ: O wise ones (ironically)
• vipaścitaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipaścit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Plural; used ironically as address

• anurūpam: appropriately / in accordance
• anurūpam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anurūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adverbial accusative: 'appropriately'

• avijñāya: without understanding
• avijñāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-vi+√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Gerund (ल्यप्): 'not having understood'

• aho: oh!
• aho: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamatory particle (विस्मय-निपात)

• sargam: creation/progeny-production
• sargam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kariṣyatha: will you do/perform
• kariṣyatha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural; parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Narada Muni
• Daksha (Prajapati)
• Haryashvas (sons of Daksha)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about being qualified to perform one’s duty (dharma)?

This verse stresses that duty—like creating progeny—should be performed with proper understanding and suitability (anurūpa). Without true knowledge, one may be unable to execute even a legitimate order.

Why did Narada Muni say this to Daksha’s sons?

Narada addressed the Haryashvas to question their readiness for the task of creation and to provoke deeper discernment, which ultimately led them toward renunciation rather than worldly progeny.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Before acting on authority or tradition, develop clarity and competence—seek right understanding, guidance, and inner qualification so that actions align with what is truly appropriate.