Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 56

Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat

Devanagari script

यद् यद् भगवता दत्तमाधिपत्यं स्वसिद्धये । सर्वं प्रत्यर्पयामासुर्हरौ भूमिगते नृप ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

yad yad bhagavatā dattam ādhipatyaṁ sva-siddhaye sarvaṁ pratyarpayām āsur harau bhūmi-gate nṛpa

Translation

Tâu Đại vương, khi Hari—Đấng Tối Thượng—giáng lâm xuống cõi đất, chư thiên đã dâng trả lại cho Ngài mọi quyền năng cai quản mà trước kia Ngài ủy thác cho họ để thi hành thẩm quyền riêng.

Synonyms

• yat: whatever
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; यद्-शब्दः (correlative: 'whatever')

• yat: whatever (each and every)
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुनरुक्तिः (repetition for emphasis); नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• bhagavatā: by the Lord
• bhagavatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचनम्

• dattam: given
• dattam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• ādhipatyam: sovereignty, lordship
• ādhipatyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādhipatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• sva-siddhaye: for their own accomplishment
• sva-siddhaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गम्, चतुर्थी (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (for one's own success)

• sarvam: all (of it)
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• pratyarpayām: returned (back)
• pratyarpayām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√arp (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परिप्रयोगे लङ्-सदृशः (periphrastic perfect base), परस्मैपदम्; धात्वर्थः—'to hand back/restore' (here as part of pratyarpayām āsur)

• āsuḥ: they did/they were (i.e., they returned)
• āsuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; सहायकक्रिया (auxiliary with pratyarpayām)

• harau: in/unto Hari
• harau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• bhūmi-gate: when (he) had come to earth
• bhūmi-gate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gone to the earth; i.e., present on earth)

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचनम्

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offering power and success back to God?

This verse says that whatever dominion is granted by the Lord for His purpose should ultimately be returned to Hari—recognizing God as the real owner and oneself as a trustee.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Parīkṣit as ‘nṛpa’ (O King) in this verse?

Śukadeva speaks directly to Parīkṣit to apply the teaching to a ruler: kingship is meaningful when aligned with the Lord’s will and surrendered back to Him.

How can I apply the message of this shloka in modern life?

Treat your abilities, position, and achievements as entrusted by God; use them in service and humility, and mentally ‘offer back’ the results rather than claiming absolute ownership.