Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 10

Ambarīṣa’s Prayers to Sudarśana and the Deliverance of Durvāsā

Devanagari script

यद्यस्ति दत्तमिष्टं वा स्वधर्मो वा स्वनुष्ठित: । कुलं नो विप्रदैवं चेद् द्विजो भवतु विज्वर: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

yady asti dattam iṣṭaṁ vā sva-dharmo vā svanuṣṭhitaḥ kulaṁ no vipra-daivaṁ ced dvijo bhavatu vijvaraḥ

Translation

Nếu gia tộc chúng con đã bố thí đúng người, đã cử hành các nghi lễ ishti và tế tự, đã chu toàn bổn phận theo dharma, và được các Bà-la-môn dẫn dắt như thần hộ tộc—thì xin lấy công đức ấy mà cho vị Bà-la-môn này được thoát khỏi cơn thiêu đốt của Luân xa Sudarśana.

Synonyms

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त-अव्यय (conditional particle): “if”

• asti: is/exists
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद: “is/exists”

• dattam: a gift given
• dattam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; “given (gift)” (as noun-like)

• iṣṭam: a sacrifice/rite
• iṣṭam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; “sacrifice/desired rite”

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive): “or”

• sva-dharmaḥ: one’s own duty
• sva-dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य धर्मः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय: “or”

• svanuṣṭhitaḥ: well performed
• svanuṣṭhitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: su-anu-ṣṭhā (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; “well-performed (duty)”

• kulam: the family/lineage
• kulam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• naḥ: our
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-बहुवचन: “our”

• vipra-daivam: the brāhmaṇa as our deity
• vipra-daivam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + daiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: विप्रस्य दैवम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; “brāhmaṇa as (our) deity/guardian”

• cet: if
• cet: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्त/सम्बन्धक-अव्यय: “if/then”

• dvijaḥ: the brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• bhavatu: let (him) become/be
• bhavatu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद: “let him be”

• vijvaraḥ: free from fever
• vijvaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-jvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; विशेषण of dvijaḥ: “free from fever/affliction”

Characters & Entities

• Ambarisha
• Durvasa Muni

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about praying for someone who has harmed you?

In this verse, King Ambarisha—though wronged—prays that the brāhmaṇa (Durvasa) be freed from suffering, showing the Bhagavatam’s ideal of compassion and non-retaliation in devotion.

Why did Ambarisha say this to Durvasa Muni in Canto 9 Chapter 5?

Durvasa had become afflicted while fleeing the Lord’s protection (Sudarśana). Ambarisha, a pure devotee, responded not with pride or vengeance but with a prayer grounded in his piety and respect for brāhmaṇas.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life when someone mistreats me?

Maintain integrity in your duties, avoid revenge, and cultivate goodwill—responding with prayerful compassion and restraint, while keeping your conduct aligned with dharma.