Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 17

The Syamantaka Jewel: Accusation, Recovery, and Kṛṣṇa’s Marriage to Satyabhāmā

Devanagari script

भगवांस्तदुपश्रुत्य दुर्यशो लिप्तमात्मनि । मार्ष्टुं प्रसेनपदवीमन्वपद्यत नागरै: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

bhagavāṁs tad upaśrutya duryaśo liptam ātmani mārṣṭuṁ prasena-padavīm anvapadyata nāgaraiḥ

Translation

Nghe lời đồn ấy, Đức Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa muốn gột sạch vết nhơ trên danh tiếng mình, nên dẫn theo dân Dvārakā và lên đường lần theo dấu chân của Prasena.

Synonyms

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्: that (matter)
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययवत् प्रयुक्तं (object of hearing)

• उपश्रुत्य: having heard
• उपश्रुत्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having heard’

• दुर्यशः: bad repute
• दुर्यशः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘ill-fame’

• लिप्तम्: smeared/attached
• लिप्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; दुर्यशः इति विशेषणम्

• आत्मनि: on himself
• आत्मनि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• मार्ष्टुम्: to wipe away
• मार्ष्टुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मृज् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (Infinitive), ‘to wipe/cleanse away’

• प्रसेनपदवीम्: Prasena’s path/track
• प्रसेनपदवीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसेन (प्रातिपदिक) + पदवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘प्रसेनस्य पदवी’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अन्वपद्यत: he followed/tracked
• अन्वपद्यत: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-आपद्/पद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नागरैः: with the townsmen
• नागरैः: सहकारक (Sahakāraka/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Prasena

FAQs

Why did Krishna go to follow Prasena’s path in the Syamantaka jewel episode?

Because hearing the rumor, Krishna knew ill fame had been placed on Him, so He followed Prasena’s trail with the citizens to uncover the truth and clear His name.

What does Srimad Bhagavatam teach about reputation and dharma in this verse?

It shows that even when one is innocent, a dharmic leader acts transparently to remove public doubt and establish truth.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life when facing false blame?

Respond with calm integrity: seek facts, follow evidence, and address concerns openly rather than reacting in anger or avoidance.