Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

तथा तदनुगा: सर्वे आत्मलिङ्गविपर्ययम् । दृष्ट्वा विमनसोऽभूवन् वीक्षमाणा: परस्परम् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

tathā tad-anugāḥ sarve ātma-liṅga-viparyayam dṛṣṭvā vimanaso ’bhūvan vīkṣamāṇāḥ parasparam

Translation

其随从亦见自身身份变异、男女之相颠倒，众皆黯然，只得相互凝视。

Synonyms

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• तत्-अनुगाः: his followers
• तत्-अनुगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अनुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—तस्य अनुगाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (तदनुगाः)

• आत्म-लिङ्ग-विपर्ययम्: reversal of one’s sex/gender-mark
• आत्म-लिङ्ग-विपर्ययम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—आत्मनः लिङ्गस्य विपर्ययः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष, बहुपद)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• विमनसः: downcast
• विमनसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (तदनुगाः)

• अभूवन्: became
• अभूवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• वीक्षमाणाः: looking
• वीक्षमाणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शानच्/Present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• परस्परम्: at one another
• परस्परम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्परम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परस्पर-भावे अव्यय (reciprocal adverb: mutually)

Characters & Entities

• Sudyumna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about sudden bodily transformation?

This verse describes Sudyumna’s attendants becoming distressed when they saw the reversal of his bodily identity, highlighting how startling and humbling material bodily change can be.

Why were Sudyumna’s followers bewildered in Bhagavatam 9.1.27?

They were confused and saddened because they witnessed their master’s bodily marks change, and they could not immediately understand how to respond to such an extraordinary reversal.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 9.1.27 for modern life?

It reminds us not to place ultimate confidence in external identity and circumstances, which can change suddenly, and to seek steadiness through dharma and devotion.