Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 17

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

False Renunciation Exposed

Devanagari script

सोऽश्वं रूपं च तद्धित्वा तस्मा अन्तर्हित: स्वराट् । वीर: स्वपशुमादाय पितुर्यज्ञमुपेयिवान् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

so ’śvaṁ rūpaṁ ca tad dhitvā tasmā antarhitaḥ svarāṭ vīraḥ sva-paśum ādāya pitur yajñam upeyivān

Translation

因陀罗见普利图之子追赶自己，便立刻舍弃伪装的形貌与衣饰，把马丢下，当场隐没不见。那位英勇的普利图之子遂将马带回父王的祭祀坛场。

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अश्वम्: the horse
• अश्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हित्वा: having abandoned
• हित्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; ‘having abandoned’

• तस्मात्: from him/thereafter
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अन्तर्हितः: hidden, disappeared
• अन्तर्हितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्हित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; अन्तर् + धा/हि √धा ‘to place’ > ‘hidden’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• स्वराट्: the independent ruler
• स्वराट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वराट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्वपशुम्: his own sacrificial animal
• स्वपशुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘own’ qualifying ‘animal’)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having taken’

• पितुः: of (his) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• यज्ञम्: the sacrifice
• यज्ञम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उपेयिवान्: approached, went to
• उपेयिवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + इ (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (perfect participle/agentive), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘having gone/approached’

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Pṛthu Mahārāja
• Vijitāśva (Pṛthu’s son)

FAQs

Why did Indra disappear after abandoning the horse and disguise in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.19.17?

Because his attempt to interfere with the sacrifice was exposed; giving up the stolen horse and the false guise, he withdrew and vanished from the scene.

Who brought back the sacrificial horse to Pṛthu Mahārāja’s yajña?

Pṛthu’s heroic son (Vijitāśva) recovered the sacrificial animal and returned it to his father’s sacrifice.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

Do your duty with courage and integrity—avoid deceit, and restore what is rightfully meant for sacred purposes and righteous work.