Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 41
Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance
अग्निरुवाच यत्तेजसाहं सुसमिद्धतेजा हव्यं वहे स्वध्वर आज्यसिक्तम् । तं यज्ञियं पञ्चविधं च पञ्चभि: स्विष्टं यजुर्भि: प्रणतोऽस्मि यज्ञम् ॥ ४१ ॥
agnir uvāca yat-tejasāhaṁ susamiddha-tejā havyaṁ vahe svadhvara ājya-siktam taṁ yajñiyaṁ pañca-vidhaṁ ca pañcabhiḥ sviṣṭaṁ yajurbhiḥ praṇato ’smi yajñam
Der Feuergott sprach: Mein Herr, durch Deine Gunst leuchte ich wie loderndes Feuer und trage im Opfer die mit Ghee begossenen Gaben. Die fünf Arten von Opfergaben nach dem Yajur-Veda sind verschiedene Erscheinungen Deiner Energien, und Du wirst mit fünf Arten vedischer Hymnen verehrt. Opfer bedeutet in Wahrheit Dich selbst, die Höchste Gottesperson.
In Bhagavad-gītā it is clearly said that yajña should be performed for Lord Viṣṇu. Lord Viṣṇu has one thousand popular transcendental names, out of which one name is Yajña. It is clearly said that everything should be done for the satisfaction of Yajña, or Viṣṇu; all other actions a person may take are only causes for his bondage. Everyone has to perform yajña according to the Vedic hymns. As stated in the Upaniṣads, fire, the altar, the auspicious full moon, the period of four months called cāturmāsya, the sacrificial animal, and the beverage called soma are necessary requisites, as are the specific hymns mentioned in the Vedas and composed of four letters. One hymn is as follows: āśrāvayeti catur-akṣaraṁ astu śrauṣaḍ iti catur-akṣaraṁ yajeti dvābhyāṁ ye yajāmahaḥ. These mantras, chanted according to the śruti and smṛti literatures, are only to please Lord Viṣṇu. For the deliverance of those who are materially conditioned and attached to material enjoyment, performing yajña and following the rules and regulations of the four divisions of society and of spiritual life are recommended. It is said in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa that by offering sacrifice to Viṣṇu one can gradually be liberated. The whole target of life, therefore, is to please Lord Viṣṇu. That is yajña. Any person who is in Kṛṣṇa consciousness has dedicated his life for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, the origin of all Viṣṇu forms, and by offering worship and prasāda daily, he becomes the best performer of yajña. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is clearly stated that in this Age of Kali the only successful performance of yajña, or sacrifice, is yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyaiḥ: the best type of sacrifice is simply to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. This yajña is offered before the form of Lord Caitanya, as other yajñas are offered before the form of Lord Viṣṇu. These recommendations are found in the Eleventh Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Moreover, this yajña performance confirms that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Viṣṇu Himself. As Lord Viṣṇu appeared at the Dakṣa yajña long, long ago, Lord Caitanya has appeared in this age to accept our saṅkīrtana-yajña.
FAQs
In this verse, Agni bows to the Supreme Lord as Yajña—the ultimate enjoyer and inner power of all sacrifices, by whose effulgence Agni can carry offerings.
Agni acknowledges that his ability to blaze and deliver ghee-anointed offerings in a sacrifice is empowered by the Supreme Lord, not by Agni’s independent strength.
Offer your actions with humility, remembering the Divine as the real source of capacity and results—turning duty and worship into devotion rather than mere ritual.