Shloka 29

Balarāma Humbles the Kurus and Rescues Sāmba

Devanagari script

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच जन्मबन्धुश्रियोन्नद्धमदास्ते भरतर्षभ । आश्राव्य रामं दुर्वाच्यमसभ्या: पुरमाविशन् ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca janma-bandhu-śrīyonnaddha- madās te bharatarṣabha āśrāvya rāmaṁ durvācyam asabhyāḥ puram āviśan

Translation

Śrī Bādarāyaṇi nói: Hỡi người ưu tú nhất của dòng tộc Bharata, sau khi những người Kuru kiêu ngạo, tự phụ bởi sự giàu có về dòng dõi và các mối quan hệ, đã nói những lời cay nghiệt này với Chúa Balarāma, họ quay lại và đi vào thành phố của mình.

Synonyms

• śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ: Śrī Bādarāyaṇi (Śuka)
• śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + bādarāyaṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (honorific ‘śrī’ + name)

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

• janma-bandhu-śriyā-unnaddha-madāt: from pride inflated by birth, kinsmen, and wealth
• janma-bandhu-śriyā-unnaddha-madāt: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janma + bandhu + śrī + unnaddha + mada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समास-समूहः—तत्पुरुष (हेतौ/कारणे): ‘जन्म’ ‘बन्धु’ ‘श्री’ इत्यादिभिः ‘उन्नद्ध’ (puffed up) ‘मद’ (pride)

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

• bharatarṣabha: O best of the Bharatas
• bharatarṣabha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी) ‘भरतानाम् ऋषभः’

• āśrāvya: having announced (made heard)
• āśrāvya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Gerund)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √śru (श्रु) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘आश्राव्य’ = having caused to hear / having announced

• rāmam: Rāma
• rāmam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• durvācyam: abusive words
• durvācyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur + vācya (कृदन्त; √vac वच् (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (उपपद/विशेषणपूर्वपद) ‘दुर्’ + ‘वाच्य’ = harsh speech/abuse (thing to be said badly)

• asabhyāḥ: the uncouth men
• asabhyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asabhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘असभ्य’ = uncivil, rude

• puram: the city
• puram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āviśan: entered
• āviśan: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √viś (विश्) (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग ‘ā-’

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Balarāma (Rāma)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pride in birth and wealth?

This verse describes how people become “unnaddha-mada” (puffed up and intoxicated) due to birth, relatives, and opulence, leading them to speak harshly and act without culture—showing pride as a cause of adharma.

Why did those men speak harshly to Lord Balarama in Canto 10 Chapter 68?

Because they were arrogant from social position and prosperity, they behaved as “asabhyāḥ” (uncivil) and insulted Balarāma before entering the city, reflecting the narrative theme of pride confronting divine authority.

How can this Bhagavatam verse be applied in modern life?

It cautions that status, family connections, and money can inflate ego and damage speech and conduct; practicing humility and respectful communication is a direct antidote taught through this episode.