Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 1

Lord Viṣṇu Instructs Pṛthu: Forgiveness, Ātmā-Deha Viveka, and the Bhakti Ideal of Kingship

Devanagari script

मैत्रेय उवाच । भगवानपि वैकुण्ठः साकं मघवता विभुः । यज्ञैर्यज्ञपतिस्तुष्टो यज्ञभुक् तमभाषत ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

maitreya uvāca bhagavān api vaikuṇṭhaḥ sākaṁ maghavatā vibhuḥ yajñair yajña-patis tuṣṭo yajña-bhuk tam abhāṣata

Translation

The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, being very much satisfied by the performance of ninety-nine horse sacrifices, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, appeared on the scene. Accompanying Him was King Indra. Lord Viṣṇu then began to speak.

Synonyms

• maitreyaḥ: Maitreya
• maitreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maitreya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), additive/also

• vaikuṇṭhaḥ: Vaikuṇṭha (Vishnu)
• vaikuṇṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaikuṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (epithet/name)

• sākam: together with
• sākam: Sahārtha (सहार्थ/Accompaniment marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/indeclinable meaning 'together with' (सह-अर्थक अव्यय)

• maghavatā: with Maghavat (Indra)
• maghavatā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maghavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• vibhuḥ: the all-powerful one
• vibhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• yajñaiḥ: by sacrifices
• yajñaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• yajñapatiḥ: lord of sacrifice
• yajñapatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña + pati (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) genitive relation 'yajñasya patiḥ'; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tuṣṭaḥ: pleased
• tuṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tuṣ (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• yajña-bhuk: enjoyer/partaker of sacrifices
• yajña-bhuk: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña + bhuj (धातु/प्रातिपदिक-निर्मित)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) 'yajñaṃ bhunakti iti'; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• abhāṣata: spoke to/addressed
• abhāṣata: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Vaikuntha (Narayana)
• Maghavan (Indra)
• Prithu Maharaja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vishnu being pleased by yajna (sacrifice)?

This verse states that the Supreme Lord, as Yajñapati (the Lord of sacrifice), becomes satisfied by properly performed yajñas and personally responds—showing that sacrifice is meant for pleasing Him, not merely for worldly gain.

Why did Lord Vaikuntha appear with Indra in this chapter?

The narrative indicates the Lord’s satisfaction with the sacrificial acts and His governance of cosmic order; appearing with Indra underscores that even the king of heaven is subordinate to the Supreme Lord and participates in the Lord’s arrangement.

What is a practical application of “Yajñapati is pleased by yajna” in modern life?

Offer your work and worship as an offering to God—perform duties ethically, dedicate results to the Lord, and practice devotion (bhakti) so that daily life becomes a yajña centered on pleasing the Supreme.