Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 8

The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property

Devanagari script

सम्प्रापितोऽस्यतदर्ह: सुभद्र । आत्मानमाख्याहि विवित्सतां नो यन्मन्यसे न: क्षममत्र वक्तुम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

daśām imāṁ vā katamena karmaṇā samprāpito ’sy atad-arhaḥ su-bhadra ātmānam ākhyāhi vivitsatāṁ no yan manyase naḥ kṣamam atra vaktum

Translation

“你因何往业而至此境？善良之人啊，此等遭遇似非你所当受。我们渴望了解你；若你认为此时此地适宜，请自述其由。”

Synonyms

• daśām: condition/state
• daśām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• imām: this
• imām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (this)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• katamena: by which
• katamena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: katama (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक विशेषण (by which?)

• karmaṇā: by (what) deed
• karmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• samprāpitaḥ: has been brought/has reached
• samprāpitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pra√āp (धातु; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asi: you are
• asi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• atad-arhaḥ: unworthy (of it)
• atad-arhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + tad + arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (तदर्हः = worthy of that; अतदर्हः = not worthy of that)

• su-bhadra: O Subhadrā
• su-bhadra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; नाम/सम्बोधन

• ātmānam: yourself
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• ākhyāhi: tell/declare
• ākhyāhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√khyā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• vivitsatām: of (us) who wish to know
• vivitsatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vi√vid (धातु; सन्-प्रत्ययान्त इच्छार्थक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/सन्-इच्छार्थक), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘of those wishing to know’

• naḥ: our/of us
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (Genitive/Dative) बहुवचन-रूप; here षष्ठी ‘our’

• yat: whatever/that which
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक यत्-शब्दः; अव्ययीभावे ‘that which/whatever’ (relative)

• manyase: you think
• manyase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• naḥ: to us
• naḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative) बहुवचन-रूप; here ‘to us/for us’

• kṣamam: proper/appropriate
• kṣamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (fit/appropriate)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana/Anukūla (उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

Characters & Entities

• Subhadrā

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam (Canto 10) teach about speaking appropriately (kṣamam vaktum)?

This verse shows that even when asking questions, one should honor propriety—speaking what is suitable for the place, time, and audience, without unnecessary disclosure.

Why did Krishna ask Subhadrā to describe herself in Bhagavatam 10.64?

Kṛṣṇa invites Subhadrā to share what is fitting, indicating respectful inquiry and creating a safe, dharmic setting for truthful narration within the unfolding Syamantaka-related events.

How can devotees apply this teaching in modern life?

Practice sincere inquiry with respect, and share personal matters with discretion—speaking truthfully while considering what is appropriate and beneficial in the situation.