Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 21

Purukutsa’s Rasātala Victory; Triśaṅku and Hariścandra; Rohita and Śunaḥśepha

Devanagari script

तत: पुरुषमेधेन हरिश्चन्द्रो महायशा: । मुक्तोदरोऽयजद् देवान् वरुणादीन् महत्कथ: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ puruṣa-medhena hariścandro mahā-yaśāḥ muktodaro ’yajad devān varuṇādīn mahat-kathaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, the famous King Hariścandra, one of the exalted persons in history, performed grand sacrifices by sacrificing a man and pleased all the demigods. In this way his dropsy created by Varuṇa was cured.

Synonyms

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/हेतुवाचक (then/thereafter)

• पुरुषमेधेन: by the human-sacrifice (puruṣamedha)
• पुरुषमेधेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुषमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समास: पुरुषस्य मेधः (genitive tatpuruṣa)

• हरिश्चन्द्रः: Hariścandra
• हरिश्चन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिश्चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महायशाः: of great fame
• महायशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महायशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: महत् यशः यस्य सः

• मुक्तोदरः: whose belly was cured
• मुक्तोदरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्तोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: मुक्तम् उदरम् यस्य सः (‘freed belly’, i.e., relieved of dropsy)

• अयजत्: sacrificed to
• अयजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘performed sacrifice/worshipped’

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वरुणादीन्: Varuṇa and others
• वरुणादीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुणादि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘varuṇa-ādi’ = Varuṇa and others (ādi-samāsa/elliptic tatpuruṣa)

• महत्कथः: of great renown
• महत्कथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्कथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: महती कथा यस्य सः (‘of great renown/story’)

Characters & Entities

• Harishchandra
• Varuna

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about King Harishchandra performing yajna?

This verse states that after being relieved of his suffering, King Harishchandra performed the puruṣamedha sacrifice and worshiped the demigods, beginning with Varuṇa.

Why is Varuna mentioned in the Harishchandra episode of Bhagavatam?

Varuṇa is central to Harishchandra’s narrative; here the verse highlights that Harishchandra worshiped the demigods starting with Varuṇa as part of his sacrificial performance after his ordeal was resolved.

What is a practical takeaway from Harishchandra’s yajna in modern life?

The verse underscores gratitude and duty after hardship—when relief comes, one should return to righteous conduct, worship, and responsible action rather than pride or forgetfulness.