Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 24

Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire

Devanagari script

गते राजनि सा धीरे तत्र स्म रुदती पितु: । न्यवेदयत्तत: सर्वमुक्तं शर्मिष्ठया कृतम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

gate rājani sā dhīre tatra sma rudatī pituḥ nyavedayat tataḥ sarvam uktaṁ śarmiṣṭhayā kṛtam

Translation

随后，那位贤明的国王回到宫中；提婆耶尼哭着回家，将舍尔米什塔所做的一切都禀告父亲舒克拉阿阇梨——她如何被抛入井中，又如何被国王救起。

Synonyms

• gate: (when) gone
• gate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त; √gam गम्, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7 विभक्ति), Singular; past participle used in locative absolute with ‘rājani’: ‘when the king had gone’

• rājani: in/when the king
• rājani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7), Singular

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1), Singular; pronoun

• dhīre: steadfast; composed
• dhīre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7), Singular; adjective qualifying ‘rājani’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक)

• sma: indeed/then (past marker)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating past narration (स्म-प्रयोग)

• rudatī: crying
• rudatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudat (कृदन्त; √rud रुद्, शतृ)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1), Singular; present participle; agrees with ‘sā’

• pituḥ: of (her) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6), Singular

• nyavedayat: informed; reported
• nyavedayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद्) (धातु) with ni- + ava-
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada; causative sense ‘made known/informed’

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (ततः = ‘then/from there’)

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; used collectively ‘everything’

• uktam: said; spoken
• uktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ukta (कृदन्त; √vac वच्, क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; past passive participle; qualifies ‘sarvam’: ‘all that was said’

• śarmiṣṭhayā: by Śarmiṣṭhā
• śarmiṣṭhayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarmiṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Singular

• kṛtam: done
• kṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ कृ, क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular; past passive participle; qualifies ‘sarvam/uktam’: ‘done’

Characters & Entities

• Devayānī
• Śarmiṣṭhā
• Vṛṣaparvā
• Yayāti

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 9.18.24 say about Devayani and Sharmishtha?

It states that after the king left, Devayānī wept before her father and narrated everything Śarmiṣṭhā had done and said.

Why did Devayani tell her father about Sharmishtha’s actions?

Because she felt wronged and sought her father’s protection and justice, escalating the conflict that drives the Yayāti narrative forward.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

When harmed, communicate the facts clearly to a responsible authority rather than suppressing grief or retaliating impulsively.