Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 18

Ambarīṣa’s Prayers to Sudarśana and the Deliverance of Durvāsā

Devanagari script

राजा तमकृताहार: प्रत्यागमनकाङ्क्षuया । चरणावुपसङ्गृह्य प्रसाद्य समभोजयत् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

rājā tam akṛtāhāraḥ pratyāgamana-kāṅkṣayā caraṇāv upasaṅgṛhya prasādya samabhojayat

Translation

国王因期待杜尔瓦萨牟尼归来而未曾进食。牟尼返回时，国王俯伏于其莲足前，百般令其欢喜，并以丰盛佳肴恭敬供养。

Synonyms

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• akṛta-āhāraḥ: having not eaten (fasting)
• akṛta-āhāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-kṛta (कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त) + āhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष समास; विशेषण (adjectival)

• pratyāgamana-kāṅkṣayā: due to the desire for his return
• pratyāgamana-kāṅkṣayā: Hetu (हेतु) / Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praty-āgamana (आ-गम् धातु, ल्युट्/घञ्; प्रातिपदिक) + kāṅkṣā (काङ्क्ष् धातु, टाप्; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषार्थे तत्पुरुष समास; हेतु/निमित्त (cause)

• caraṇau: (his) feet
• caraṇau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• upasaṅgṛhya: having clasped/held
• upasaṅgṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-saṃ-√grah (ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• prasādya: having pleased/propitiated
• prasādya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√sad (सद् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• samabhojayat: made (him) eat; fed
• samabhojayat: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√bhuj (भुज् धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); णिजन्त (causative)

Characters & Entities

• Mahārāja Ambarīṣa
• Durvāsā Muni

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about honoring guests and sages?

This verse shows Mahārāja Ambarīṣa waiting for the sage and respectfully serving him—teaching that honoring a guest, especially a saintly person, is a vital expression of dharma and devotion.

Why did Ambarisha Maharaja hold Durvasa Muni’s feet and feed him?

Ambarīṣa sought to please Durvāsā upon his return, showing humility and proper etiquette toward a revered guest, even though the King himself had not yet eaten.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Practice respectful hospitality, patience, and humility—especially toward elders and spiritually minded people—placing service and good conduct above personal comfort.