Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 20

The Dynasty of Vaivasvata Manu Begins — Ilā/Sudyumna and the Birth of Purūravā

Devanagari script

एतत् सङ्कल्पवैषम्यं होतुस्ते व्यभिचारत: । तथापि साधयिष्ये ते सुप्रजास्त्वं स्वतेजसा ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

etat saṅkalpa-vaiṣamyaṁ hotus te vyabhicārataḥ tathāpi sādhayiṣye te suprajāstvaṁ sva-tejasā

Translation

你这誓愿的差失，是因祭司偏离了最初的目的；然而我将以自身威德成就你，使你得一位贤善之子。

Synonyms

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṅkalpa-vaiṣamyam: inconsistency of intention
• saṅkalpa-vaiṣamyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vaiṣamya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• hotuḥ: of the priest
• hotuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hotṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• te: for you / to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vyabhicārataḥ: due to deviation / from transgression
• vyabhicārataḥ: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyabhicāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathāpi: even so / nevertheless
• tathāpi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā + api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, concessive particle (अपि-सहित), ‘nevertheless’

• sādhayiṣye: I shall accomplish
• sādhayiṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sādh (धातु; साधने)
• Form: Future (लृट्/lṛṭ), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• te: for you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• su-prajāḥ-tvam: the state of having good progeny
• su-prajāḥ-tvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + tvam (प्रत्यय; त्व)
• Form: Abstract noun with -tva (त्वप्रत्यय): ‘state of having good offspring’; Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sva-tejasā: by (my) own splendor/power
• sva-tejasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘by (my) own power/energy’; Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• hotā (the priest)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about mistakes in Vedic rituals?

This verse says that when a ritual result becomes irregular due to a priest’s deviation, a spiritually potent authority can still rectify the outcome and grant the intended blessing.

Why is the word 'vyabhicārataḥ' used in this Bhagavatam verse?

It indicates that the unexpected result occurred because the priest deviated or erred in the proper execution of the sacrifice, causing a mismatch with the original intention (saṅkalpa).

Practical application: what should a devotee learn from this verse today?

Sincere intention and reliance on divine grace matter; even when external procedures are imperfect, spiritual integrity and higher protection can help set things right.