Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 15

Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention

False Renunciation Exposed

Devanagari script

वधान्निवृत्तं तं भूयो हन्तवेऽत्रिरचोदयत् । जहि यज्ञहनं तात महेन्द्रं विबुधाधमम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

vadhān nivṛttaṁ taṁ bhūyo hantave ’trir acodayat jahi yajña-hanaṁ tāta mahendraṁ vibudhādhamam

Translation

When Atri Muni saw that the son of King Pṛthu did not kill Indra but returned deceived by him, Atri Muni again instructed him to kill the heavenly King because he thought that Indra had become the lowliest of all demigods due to his impeding the execution of King Pṛthu’s sacrifice.

Synonyms

• वधात्: from killing
• वधात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Ablative, Singular)

• निवृत्तम्: having refrained/turned back
• निवृत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः—नि (turned back, refrained)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• भूयः: again
• भूयः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस् (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरर्थक-अव्ययम् (adverb: again/further)

• हन्तवे: to kill
• हन्तवे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + तुमुन्/तवेन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तवेन्-प्रत्ययान्तम् (infinitive/dative of purpose), अर्थः—हननाय (for killing)

• अत्रिः: Atri
• अत्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• अचोदयत्: urged
• अचोदयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चुद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; उपसर्गः—आ (he urged)

• जहि: kill
• जहि: Pravartaka (आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम् (kill!)

• यज्ञ-हनम्: destroyer of the sacrifice
• यज्ञ-हनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + हन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘sacrifice-killer’); पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular; adjective)

• तात: dear one, son
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचनम्; स्नेहसम्बोधनम् (term of address)

• महेन्द्रम्: Mahendra (Indra)
• महेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• विबुध-अधमम्: the worst among the gods/wise
• विबुध-अधमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विबुध (प्रातिपदिक) + अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘lowest among the wise/gods’); पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Masculine, Accusative, Singular; adjective)

Characters & Entities

• Atri
• Pṛthu
• Indra (Mahendra)

FAQs

Why is Indra called 'yajña-hana' (destroyer of sacrifice) in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this episode, Indra repeatedly disrupts King Pṛthu’s sacrifice out of rivalry and fear of losing prestige, so he is labeled as one who obstructs yajña.

Why did Sage Atri tell King Pṛthu to kill Indra?

Seeing Indra’s repeated interference with a righteous sacrifice, Atri—speaking strongly—urged Pṛthu to stop the offender and protect dharma, even if the offender was the king of heaven.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

Even respected positions can be corrupted by envy; one should protect righteous duty and spiritual practice from sabotage, while remaining guided by saintly counsel and self-control.