Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 24
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana
त्रेतायां रक्तवर्णोऽसौ चतुर्बाहुस्त्रिमेखल: । हिरण्यकेशस्त्रय्यात्मा स्रुक्स्रुवाद्युपलक्षण: ॥ २४ ॥
tretāyāṁ rakta-varṇo ’sau catur-bāhus tri-mekhalaḥ hiraṇya-keśas trayy-ātmā sruk-sruvādy-upalakṣaṇaḥ
In Tretā-yuga the Lord appears with a red complexion. He has four arms, golden hair, and wears a triple belt representing initiation into each of the three Vedas. Embodying the knowledge of worship by sacrificial performance, which is contained in the Ṛg, Sāma and Yajur Vedas, His symbols are the ladle, spoon and other implements of sacrifice.
The sruk is a particular implement for pouring ghee in sacrifices. It is about an arm’s length long and is made of a particular type of wood called vikaṅkata. The sruk has a rodlike handle and a spout with a shallow groove at its tip that resembles a swan’s beak. Its front part is a carved-out spoon the size of a fist. The sruva is another implement used in sacrificial oblations. It is made of khadira wood, is smaller than the sruk and is used to pour ghee into the sruk. It is also sometimes used instead of the sruk to pour ghee directly into the sacrificial fire. These are the Lord’s symbols in Tretā-yuga, when the Lord incarnates to introduce the yuga-dharma of yajña, or sacrifice.
FAQs
Bhāgavatam 11.5.24 says the Lord appears reddish in complexion, four-armed, with three girdles, golden hair, and is known by Vedic sacrificial symbols like the sruk and sruvā ladles—highlighting the yuga’s emphasis on Vedic yajña.
This verse describes the Lord as “trayy-ātmā” (embodiment of the three Vedas) and marked by sacrificial implements, indicating that the dominant spiritual method and culture of Tretā-yuga centers on Vedic ritual worship and sacrifice.
The verse reminds seekers that spiritual practice should match the Lord’s prescribed method for the age; in Kali-yuga, the Bhāgavatam emphasizes devotion through nāma-saṅkīrtana (chanting God’s names) rather than elaborate sacrifices.