Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 19

The Slaying of Śālva and the Destruction of Saubha

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच वृथा त्वं कत्थसे मन्द न पश्यस्यन्तिकेऽन्तकम् । पौरुषं दर्शयन्ति स्म शूरा न बहुभाषिण: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bhagavān uvāca vṛthā tvaṁ katthase manda na paśyasy antike ’ntakam paurusaṁ darśayanti sma śūrā na bahu-bhāṣiṇaḥ

Translation

至上主说道：“愚昧之人啊，你徒然夸口，因为你看不见死亡就在近旁。真正的勇士不多言，而以行动显其英勇。”

Synonyms

• śrī-bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• śrī-bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘the glorious Lord’

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• vṛthā: vainly
• vṛthā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vṛthā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (रीत्या/व्यर्थता-वाचक-अव्यय)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• katthase: boast
• katthase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: katth (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/वर्तमान), 2nd person, Singular; Ātmanepada

• manda: O dullard
• manda: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• paśyasi: you see
• paśyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/वर्तमान), 2nd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• antike: nearby
• antike: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; used adverbially ‘nearby’

• antakam: Death (Yama)/the end
• antakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pauruṣam: manliness/valor
• pauruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• darśayanti: show
• darśayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्) → darśay (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/वर्तमान), 3rd person, Plural; Parasmaipada; causative ‘make (it) seen/show’

• sma: indeed/used to
• sma: Kriyā-anubandha (क्रियानुबन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Particle indicating past/continuative sense (स्म-अव्यय)

• śūrāḥ: heroes
• śūrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• bahu-bhāṣiṇaḥ: talkative (ones)
• bahu-bhāṣiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; कर्मधारय: ‘much-speaking’

Characters & Entities

• Krishna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about boasting and pride?

This verse condemns empty boasting, reminding that death is near and that real greatness is proven through conduct, not excessive speech.

Why did Krishna say that death is nearby?

In the battle narrative of Canto 10, Krishna rebukes the opponent’s arrogance, warning that time and death are imminent and cannot be avoided by mere bravado.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Avoid self-promotion and hollow claims; focus on disciplined action, integrity, and humility, remembering life’s uncertainty.