Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 11

Rantideva’s Supreme Charity and the Hastī Lineage

Hastināpura and Pañcāla Origins

Devanagari script

तस्य तां करुणां वाचं निशम्य विपुलश्रमाम् । कृपया भृशसन्तप्त इदमाहामृतं वच: ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

tasya tāṁ karuṇāṁ vācaṁ niśamya vipula-śramām kṛpayā bhṛśa-santapta idam āhāmṛtaṁ vacaḥ

Translation

听到那贫困而疲惫的旃陀罗哀切的话语，兰提提婆大王因慈悲而深受触动，遂说出如下甘露般的言辞。

Synonyms

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• tām: that
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• karuṇām: pitiful, compassionate
• karuṇām: Karma (कर्म) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karuṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन (qualifying vācam)

• vācam: speech/words
• vācam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• niśamya: having heard
• niśamya: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni-√śam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund) — ‘having heard’

• vipula-śramām: full of great fatigue
• vipula-śramām: Karma (कर्म) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक) + śrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (vipulaḥ śramaḥ yasyāḥ sā); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन (qualifying vācam)

• kṛpayā: out of compassion
• kṛpayā: Hetu (हेतु) / Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन

• bhṛśa-santaptaḥ: deeply distressed
• bhṛśa-santaptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) — predicate adjective
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛśa (अव्यय) + sam-√tap (धातु)
• Form: कर्मधारय (bhṛśa = very) + क्त (kta) participle; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन (describing speaker)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• amṛtam: nectar-like, immortal
• amṛtam: Karma (कर्म) — qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन (qualifying vacaḥ)

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

Purport

Mahārāja Rantideva’s words were like amṛta, or nectar, and therefore, aside from rendering bodily service to an aggrieved person, by his words alone the King could save the life of anyone who might hear him.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about compassionate speech?

This verse highlights that truly compassionate words, even spoken in hardship, can evoke deep mercy in the listener and become ‘amṛta’—nectar-like—because they soothe and uplift the heart.

Why are the words called ‘amrita vacah’ (nectar-like words) in this verse?

Because the reply is portrayed as spiritually and emotionally life-giving—spoken from sincere compassion, it comforts the distressed and carries a healing, elevating effect.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Respond to others’ pain with empathy: listen carefully, let compassion guide your response, and speak in a way that reduces suffering rather than intensifying it.