Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 5

The Murder of Satrājit and the Recovery of the Syamantaka Jewel

Devanagari script

एवं भिन्नमतिस्ताभ्यां सत्राजितमसत्तम: । शयानमवधील्ल‍ोभात् स पाप: क्षीणजीवित: ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ bhinna-matis tābhyāṁ satrājitam asattamaḥ śayānam avadhīl lobhāt sa pāpaḥ kṣīṇa jīvitaḥ

Translation

邪恶的沙塔丹瓦受到他们建议的影响，仅仅出于贪婪，就在萨特拉吉特睡梦中杀死了他。就这样，罪孽深重的沙塔丹瓦缩短了自己的寿命。

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्या/प्रकारे अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• भिन्न-मतिḥ: of divided mind
• भिन्न-मतिḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भिद्) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (one whose mind is divided)

• ताभ्याम्: by those two
• ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), द्विवचन; ‘by those two’

• सत्राजितम्: Satrājit
• सत्राजितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्राजित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असत्तमः: the most vile
• असत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तमप् (तद्धित/प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तमप्-प्रत्ययान्त (superlative): ‘most wicked’

• शयानम्: lying (asleep)
• शयानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘lying down’

• अवधीत्: killed
• अवधीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + धा/हन् (धातु; अवधी-रूप)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लोभात्: out of greed
• लोभात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पापः: sinful
• पापः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• क्षीण-जीवितः: with life waning/near death
• क्षीण-जीवितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √क्षि) + जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (life diminished/near death)

Purport

According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the word asattamaḥ indicates that Śatadhanvā was basically evil-minded and a firm hater of Satrājit.

Characters & Entities

• Satrājit
• Akrūra
• Kṛtavarmā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about greed (lobha) and its consequences?

This verse shows that greed can drive one to grave sin—like murdering an innocent person—and that such sinful acts quickly lead to ruin, as the offender’s life and fortune become “kṣīṇa,” diminished.

Why was Satrājit killed in the Syamantaka jewel story?

Because of greed for the Syamantaka jewel: influenced by two associates, the killer’s mind became conflicted and he murdered Satrājit while he slept in order to seize the jewel.

Practical application: how can a devotee overcome greed in modern life?

Remembering that greed blinds judgment and destroys character, a devotee practices contentment, offers possessions in service to Kṛṣṇa, and seeks saintly association to avoid being swayed by harmful counsel.