Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 16

Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti

Devanagari script

तत्तु कालस्य दीर्घत्वात् स्त्रीत्वान्मातुस्तिरोदधे । ऋषिणानुगृहीतं मां नाधुनाप्यजहात्स्मृति: ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

tat tu kālasya dīrghatvāt strītvān mātus tirodadhe ṛṣiṇānugṛhītaṁ māṁ nādhunāpy ajahāt smṛtiḥ

Translation

由于岁月久远，又因母亲为女子而心智较弱，她忘却了那些教诲；但大圣者那罗陀赐福于我，因此那记忆至今未曾离我。

Synonyms

• तत्: that (teaching)
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र ‘that (teaching)’ इत्यर्थे

• तु: but
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• कालस्य: of time
• कालस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दीर्घत्वात्: because of long duration
• दीर्घत्वात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घत्व (प्रातिपदिक; दीर्घ + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (cause)

• स्त्रीत्वात्: because of being a woman
• स्त्रीत्वात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीत्व (प्रातिपदिक; स्त्री + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे

• मातुः: of the mother
• मातुः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तिरोदधे: disappeared/was concealed
• तिरोदधे: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तिरो-धा (धातु; धा with तिरस्/तिरो उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• ऋषिणा: by the sage
• ऋषिणा: करण (Karaṇa/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनुगृहीतम्: blessed/favored
• अनुगृहीतम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘(that) which was favored/blessed’

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (now)

• अपि: even
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधानार्थक (even)

• अजहात्: did not abandon
• अजहात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु) + अ- (निषेध/प्रत्ययात्मक augment in aorist)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्मृतिः: memory
• स्मृतिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā (9.32) the Lord says:

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada Maharaja
• Kayadhu (Prahlada's mother)
• Narada Muni

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 7.7.16 say about remembering spiritual teachings?

It explains that spiritual instruction may fade with time, but when one receives a sage’s mercy (guru-kripa), the remembrance of bhakti can remain firm even after many years.

Why does Prahlada mention his mother forgetting the teachings?

Prahlada contrasts his mother’s inability to retain Narada’s instruction over a long time with his own lasting remembrance, emphasizing the special empowerment he received by the sage’s grace.

How can I apply this verse in modern life to strengthen devotion?

Seek saintly association, hear regularly, and serve the guru and devotees—because consistent hearing plus genuine spiritual guidance helps remembrance stay steady despite time and distractions.