Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 16

Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention

False Renunciation Exposed

Devanagari script

एवं वैन्यसुत: प्रोक्तस्त्वरमाणं विहायसा । अन्वद्रवदभिक्रुद्धो रावणं गृध्रराडिव ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ vainya-sutaḥ proktas tvaramāṇaṁ vihāyasā anvadravad abhikruddho rāvaṇaṁ gṛdhra-rāḍ iva

Translation

如此被告知后，维那之孙怒火中烧，追逐那在空中仓皇逃遁的因陀罗，犹如鹫王追赶罗波那一般。

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb of manner: thus)

• वैन्य-सुतः: the son of Vainya (Pṛthu’s son)
• वैन्य-सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘son of Vainya’); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• प्रोक्तः: having been instructed
• प्रोक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः—प्र (having been told/addressed)

• त्वरमाणम्: hurrying
• त्वरमाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्तः (शतृ), पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Present active participle; Masculine Accusative Singular)

• विहायसा: through the sky
• विहायसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहायस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Neuter, Instrumental, Singular)

• अन्वद्रवत्: pursued
• अन्वद्रवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः—अनु (he ran after)

• अभिक्रुद्धः: furiously enraged
• अभिक्रुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः—अभि (very angry)

• रावणम्: Rāvaṇa
• रावणम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• गृध्र-राट्: the vulture-king (Jaṭāyu)
• गृध्र-राट्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र (प्रातिपदिक) + राट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘king of vultures’); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्ययम् (indeclinable of comparison)

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu (Vainyasuta)
• Vena
• Rāvaṇa
• Jaṭāyu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about King Pṛthu pursuing Indra during the Aśvamedha?

This verse describes Pṛthu’s intense resolve to protect the sanctity of his sacrifice—he angrily chases the offender through the sky, illustrating a king’s duty to uphold dharma and prevent disruption of yajña.

Why is Rāvaṇa and the king of vultures mentioned in this Bhagavatam verse?

Śukadeva uses a familiar epic comparison: just as Jaṭāyu (the vulture-king) pursued Rāvaṇa, Pṛthu similarly pursues the wrongdoer, emphasizing swift, courageous response against adharma.

Practical application: what does this verse teach about dealing with wrongdoing today?

It teaches decisive action to protect sacred duties and principles—respond firmly to disruption or dishonesty, while keeping the higher purpose (dharma) in view rather than personal ego.