Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 3

Śaryāti, Sukanyā, Cyavana Muni, the Aśvinī-kumāras, and Kakudmī-Revatī

Baladeva Marriage

Devanagari script

सा सखीभि: परिवृता विचिन्वन्त्यङ्‌घ्रिपान् वने । वल्मीकरन्ध्रे दद‍ृशे खद्योते इव ज्योतिषी ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

sā sakhībhiḥ parivṛtā vicinvanty aṅghripān vane valmīka-randhre dadṛśe khadyote iva jyotiṣī

Translation

苏甘雅被女伴环绕，在林中采摘诸果之时，于蚁丘（虫丘）的孔洞里看见两点光辉，宛如萤火般闪耀，如同两颗明灯。

Synonyms

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• सखीभिः: with (her) friends
• सखीभिः: Sahakaraka (सह/सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• परिवृता: surrounded
• परिवृता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + वृत (धातु-वृत्; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Past passive participle used adjectivally; ‘surrounded’

• विचिन्वन्ती: searching
• विचिन्वन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चि (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘searching’

• अङ्घ्रिपान्: (forest) fruits (lit. ‘foot-drinkers’)
• अङ्घ्रिपान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्घ्रि + प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• वल्मीकरन्ध्रे: in the hole of an anthill
• वल्मीकरन्ध्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल्मीका + रन्ध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• ददृशे: appeared / was seen
• ददृशे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘was seen/appeared’ (intransitive perfect)

• खद्योते: in/like a firefly
• खद्योते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खद्योत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; used in simile context

• इव: like
• इव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमार्थक-निपात (particle of comparison)

• ज्योतिषी: two lights (eyes)
• ज्योतिषी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Nominative dual

FAQs

What is the meaning of Srimad Bhagavatam 9.3.3?

It describes a young woman, accompanied by her friends, searching a forest for her beloved’s footprints, and then noticing a pair of shining eyes in an anthill—compared poetically to fireflies.

Why does the Bhagavatam compare the eyes to fireflies in an anthill?

The comparison highlights the sudden, delicate appearance of light in darkness—suggesting hidden presence, mystery, and the dramatic moment of discovery within the forest setting.

What practical lesson can be taken from this Bhagavatam verse today?

It reminds readers to be attentive and perceptive: what we seek may be hidden in unexpected places, and patience in searching often precedes revelation.