Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 23

Varṣā-Śarad Vṛndāvana-Śobha: The Beauty of the Rainy and Autumn Seasons in Vraja

Devanagari script

जलौघैर्निरभिद्यन्त सेतवो वर्षतीश्वरे । पाषण्डिनामसद्वादैर्वेदमार्गा: कलौ यथा ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

jalaughair nirabhidyanta setavo varṣatīśvare pāṣaṇḍinām asad-vādair veda-mārgāḥ kalau yathā

Translation

因陀罗降雨时，洪流冲决田间堤埂；同样在迦利时代，邪见者的虚妄论说摧毁吠陀戒律的界限。

Synonyms

• जलौघैः: by torrents of water
• जलौघैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलौघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• निरभिद्यन्त: were broken apart
• निरभिद्यन्त: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; with उपसर्ग nir-

• सेतवः: dams/embankments
• सेतवः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• वर्षति: when it rains
• वर्षति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• ईश्वरे: when the Lord (rain-giver) [is] raining
• ईश्वरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular (absolute sense with वर्षति)

• पाषण्डिनाम्: of heretics
• पाषण्डिनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• असद्-वादाैः: by false doctrines
• असद्-वादाैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक) + वाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• वेद-मार्गाः: paths of the Veda
• वेद-मार्गाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• कलौ: in Kali (age)
• कलौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular

• यथा: just as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Comparative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा/प्रकार-अव्यय (comparative/manner indeclinable)

Characters & Entities

• Indra (as the lord of rain)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kali Yuga and the decline of Vedic dharma?

This verse compares floodwaters breaking embankments to Kali-yuga, where the Vedic path is disrupted by false teachings and misleading arguments of pāṣaṇḍīs (heretical pretenders).

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 10.20.23 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while describing the rainy season in Vṛndāvana and drawing a moral analogy for Kali-yuga.

How can this teaching be applied in modern spiritual life?

It advises seekers to protect their practice by discerning authentic śāstra-based guidance and avoiding philosophies that undermine the Vedas through deceptive reasoning.