Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

गर्भसम्भवमासुर्या भर्तुर्विज्ञाय मानिनी । देवयानी पितुर्गेहं ययौ क्रोधविमूर्छिता ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

garbha-sambhavam āsuryā bhartur vijñāya māninī devayānī pitur gehaṁ yayau krodha-vimūrchitā

Translation

骄傲的德瓦雅妮从外人处得知沙尔弥什塔因其夫而怀孕，便怒火攻心，奔回父家。

Synonyms

• garbhasambhavam: the occurrence of pregnancy
• garbhasambhavam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garbhasambhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āsuryāḥ: of the demoness (Sharmishtha)
• āsuryāḥ: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsurī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bhartuḥ: from the husband
• bhartuḥ: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• vijñāya: having understood/learned
• vijñāya: Purvakala-kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vijñā (vi + jñā) (धातु)
• Form: Gerund (Lyap Pratyaya)

• māninī: proud/haughty
• māninī: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māninī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• devayānī: Devayani
• devayānī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devayānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• pituḥ: father's
• pituḥ: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• geham: home/house
• geham: Karma (Destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: geha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama Purusha, Singular

• krodhavimūrchitā: bewildered by anger
• krodhavimūrchitā: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krodhavimūrchitā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Devayānī
• Yayāti
• Śarmiṣṭhā
• Śukrācārya

FAQs

Why did Devayānī leave King Yayāti in Srimad Bhagavatam 9.18?

She discovered that Yayāti had conceived a child through Śarmiṣṭhā, and, hurt and enraged, she went to her father Śukrācārya’s home.

What does this verse show about the consequences of breaking marital dharma?

It shows immediate social and emotional fallout—loss of trust, anger, separation—and sets the stage for further karmic consequences in the narrative.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from Devayānī’s reaction?

Guard integrity in relationships, avoid actions that violate dharma, and address conflict truthfully before it escalates into rupture and suffering.