Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 10

Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire

Devanagari script

शर्मिष्ठाजानती वासो गुरुपुत्र्या: समव्ययत् । स्वीयं मत्वा प्रकुपिता देवयानीदमब्रवीत् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

śarmiṣṭhājānatī vāso guru-putryāḥ samavyayat svīyaṁ matvā prakupitā devayānīdam abravīt

Translation

Śarmiṣṭhā vô tình khoác lên mình y phục của Devayānī, con gái của bậc thầy, tưởng là của mình. Vì thế Devayānī nổi giận và nói như sau.

Synonyms

• śarmiṣṭhā: Śarmiṣṭhā
• śarmiṣṭhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarmiṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ajānatī: not knowing
• ajānatī: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक शतृ (Present active participle with negation a-), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• vāsaḥ: the garment
• vāsaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (छन्दसि/प्रयोगे रूपम्; सामान्यतः vāsas)

• guru-putryāḥ: of the guru’s daughter
• guru-putryāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru-putrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (guroḥ putrī)

• samavyayat: took away/appropriated
• samavyayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ava + i (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: sam-, ava-; अर्थे: ‘अपहरत्/अगृह्णात्’ (took away)

• svīyam: as her own
• svīyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• matvā: having thought/considered
• matvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• prakupitā: enraged
• prakupitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + kupita (प्रातिपदिक; from √kup)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: pra-

• devayānī: Devayānī
• devayānī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devayānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• abravīt: said
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Śarmiṣṭhā
• Devayānī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about anger arising from possessiveness?

This verse shows how mistaking something as “mine” can trigger anger and conflict—Devayānī becomes enraged simply by believing the garment was her own.

Why did Devayānī become angry with Śarmiṣṭhā?

Śarmiṣṭhā unknowingly wore Devayānī’s garment; Devayānī, thinking her property had been taken, became furious and confronted her.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Verify facts before reacting—many quarrels begin from misunderstanding and possessiveness; pausing to clarify can prevent unnecessary harm.