Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 16

Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच अम्बरीषो महाभाग: सप्तद्वीपवतीं महीम् । अव्ययां च श्रियं लब्ध्वा विभवं चातुलं भुवि ॥ १५ ॥ मेनेऽतिदुर्लभं पुंसां सर्वं तत् स्वप्नसंस्तुतम् । विद्वान् विभवनिर्वाणं तमो विशति यत् पुमान् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca ambarīṣo mahā-bhāgaḥ sapta-dvīpavatīṁ mahīm avyayāṁ ca śriyaṁ labdhvā vibhavaṁ cātulaṁ bhuvi

Translation

Śukadeva nói: Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, người vô cùng phước lành, đã đạt quyền cai trị toàn cõi địa cầu gồm bảy đảo và hưởng phú quý vô tận. Nhưng ngài biết rõ tất cả chỉ là vật chất, như cảnh trong mộng rồi cũng tiêu tan; và kẻ không có bhakti khi đạt giàu sang ấy lại càng chìm sâu vào bóng tối của tánh tamas.

Synonyms

• mene: considered/thought
• mene: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); आत्मनेपद

• ati-durlabham: extremely rare
• ati-durlabham: Karma (कर्म/Object-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); विशेषण of ‘sarvam/tat’

• puṁsām: of men
• puṁsām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarvam: all (this)
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to ‘sarvam’

• svapna-saṁstutam: praised/valued like a dream
• svapna-saṁstutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svapna (प्रातिपदिक) + saṁstuta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘svapne saṁstutam’/‘svapnasya saṁstutam’—praised/valued like a dream; विशेषण of ‘sarvam/tat’

• vidvān: the wise man
• vidvān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक; √vid कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘the wise one’ (subject)

• vibhava-nirvāṇam: the vanishing of opulence
• vibhava-nirvāṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object—understood as what is known/seen)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhava (प्रातिपदिक) + nirvāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘vibhavasya nirvāṇam’ (cessation of opulence/its fading)

• tamaḥ: darkness
• tamaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• viśati: enters
• viśati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: viś (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); परस्मैपद

• yat: when/that
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Clause linker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative particle used as conjunction (यत्-सम्बन्धक-अव्यय), ‘when/that which’

• pumān: a man
• pumān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Purport

For a devotee material opulence is insignificant, whereas for a nondevotee material opulence is the cause of increasing bondage, for a devotee knows that anything material is temporary, whereas a nondevotee regards the temporary so-called happiness as everything and forgets the path of self-realization. Thus for the nondevotee material opulence is a disqualification for spiritual advancement.

Characters & Entities

• Ambarīṣa Mahārāja
• Śukadeva Gosvāmī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about a devotee receiving wealth and power?

This verse shows that even vast sovereignty and inexhaustible prosperity can come to a devotee, yet such gifts are presented as external—meant to be used in service rather than for pride.

Why is Ambarisha Maharaja described as ‘mahā-bhāga’ (greatly fortunate)?

Because he was blessed with extraordinary worldly resources—rule over the earth and great opulence—which, in the narrative, become instruments for devotion and righteousness.

Practical application: How should spiritual people handle success and influence today?

Treat success as a responsibility: use resources ethically, support dharma, and keep devotion central rather than letting status become the goal.