Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 17

The Appearance and Coronation of King Pṛthu (Pṛthu-avatāra) and His Humble Refusal of Premature Praise

Devanagari script

दशचन्द्रमसिं रुद्र: शतचन्द्रं तथाम्बिका । सोमोऽमृतमयानश्वांस्त्वष्टा रूपाश्रयं रथम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

daśa-candram asiṁ rudraḥ śata-candraṁ tathāmbikā somo ’mṛtamayān aśvāṁs tvaṣṭā rūpāśrayaṁ ratham

Translation

鲁陀罗（湿婆）赐给他一柄连鞘宝剑，鞘上刻有十轮明月；安比迦（杜尔迦）赐予刻有百轮明月的盾牌。月神苏摩献上如甘露所成的骏马；工巧神特瓦什塔（毗湿瓦羯磨）献上一乘极其华美的战车。

Synonyms

• दशचन्द्रम्: ten-moon (marked with ten moons)
• दशचन्द्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास; (ten-moon-marked)

• असिम्: sword
• असिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शतचन्द्रम्: hundred-moon (marked with a hundred moons)
• शतचन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रम (likewise)

• अम्बिका: Ambikā (Pārvatī)
• अम्बिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषनाम (Pārvatī)

• सोमः: Soma (Moon-god)
• सोमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अमृतमयान्: made of nectar, ambrosial
• अमृतमयान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण; अश्वान् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अश्वान्: horses
• अश्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• त्वष्टा: Tvaṣṭā
• त्वष्टा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रूपाश्रयम्: having form as its basis; form-bearing
• रूपाश्रयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; रथम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Śiva)
• Ambikā (Pārvatī/Durgā)
• Soma (Candra)
• Tvaṣṭā
• King Pṛthu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about divine support for righteous rulers?

This verse shows that when a king embodies dharma like Pṛthu, even great devas such as Rudra, Ambikā, Soma, and Tvaṣṭā assist him with strength, resources, and auspicious instruments for protecting the world.

Why did Rudra, Ambikā, Soma, and Tvaṣṭā give gifts to King Pṛthu?

In the narrative of Pṛthu’s appearance and mission, the devas recognize him as an empowered ruler meant to restore order and prosperity, so they offer weapons, horses, and a chariot to aid his divine kingship.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Align your work with dharma and selfless responsibility; support and resources naturally gather around integrity, competence, and service—just as the devas equipped Pṛthu for the welfare of all.