Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 13

Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent

Prelude to Prahlāda’s History

Devanagari script

अत्रैवोदाहृत: पूर्वमितिहास: सुरर्षिणा । प्रीत्या महाक्रतौ राजन् पृच्छतेऽजातशत्रवे ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

atraivodāhṛtaḥ pūrvam itihāsaḥ surarṣiṇā prītyā mahā-kratau rājan pṛcchate ’jāta-śatrave

Translation

Hỡi vua, về điều này, thuở trước trong đại tế Rājasūya, thiên hiền Nārada đã hoan hỷ thuật lại một câu chuyện lịch sử. Đáp lời hỏi của Ajātaśatru Yudhiṣṭhira, ngài nêu ví dụ sống động rằng ngay cả khi diệt asura, Thượng Đế vẫn luôn công bằng và vô tư.

Synonyms

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (देशाव्यय), adverb of place

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (अवधारणनिपात), emphatic particle

• udāhṛtaḥ: was narrated/mentioned
• udāhṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-√hṛ (हृ धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कृत्: क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• pūrvam: formerly/earlier
• pūrvam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (कालाव्यय), adverb (पूर्वम्)

• itihāsaḥ: history/legend
• itihāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: itihāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sura-rṣiṇā: by the divine sage
• sura-rṣiṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय: ‘divine sage’), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• prītyā: out of affection
• prītyā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-kratau: in the great sacrifice
• mahā-kratau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय: ‘great sacrifice’), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

• pṛcchate: asks/inquires
• pṛcchate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (प्रच्छ् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• ajāta-śatrave: to Ajātaśatru (one without enemies)
• ajāta-śatrave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajāta (प्रातिपदिक) + śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि: ‘one whose enemy is not born’ = ‘one without enemies’), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)

Purport

This relates to how the Lord exhibited His impartiality even when killing Śiśupāla in the arena of the Rājasūya yajña performed by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Nārada Muni

FAQs

Who is Ajātaśatru mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 7.1.13?

Ajātaśatru is an epithet of King Yudhiṣṭhira, meaning “one whose enemy is not born,” indicating his saintly, non-envious nature.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention a previous itihāsa in this verse?

He signals that the teaching will be supported by an earlier historical narration—spoken by Nārada Muni—used to clarify the topic being discussed in this section.

How can devotees apply the lesson of learning through itihāsa (sacred history) today?

By studying Bhagavatam narratives as practical guidance—using real examples of devotees and kings to shape one’s conduct, faith, and understanding of dharma and bhakti.