Shloka 3

The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed (Brāhmaṇa-patnī-prasāda) — Ritualism Humbled by Bhakti

Devanagari script

प्रयात देवयजनं ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मवादिन: । सत्रमाङ्गिरसं नाम ह्यासते स्वर्गकाम्यया ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

prayāta deva-yajanaṁ brāhmaṇā brahma-vādinaḥ satram āṅgirasaṁ nāma hy āsate svarga-kāmyayā

Translation

[Der Herr Kṛṣṇa sprach:] Geht zur Opferstätte. Dort führen Brāhmaṇas, kundig in den vedischen Vorschriften, das Satra namens Āṅgirasa aus, in der Sehnsucht nach dem Himmel.

Synonyms

• प्रयात: go
• प्रयात: क्रिया (आज्ञा/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + या (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

• देव-यजनम्: to the sacrifice for the gods
• देव-यजनम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः ('worship/sacrifice for the gods'); नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ब्राह्मणाः: the brāhmaṇas
• ब्राह्मणाः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• ब्रह्म-वादिनः: expounders of the Veda
• ब्रह्म-वादिनः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः ('speakers/expounders of brahman/veda'); पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• सत्रम्: a sacrificial session
• सत्रम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• आङ्गिरसम्: Āṅgirasa (of the Aṅgiras lineage)
• आङ्गिरसम्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आङ्गिरस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifies satram)

• नाम: named
• नाम: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; नामनिर्देशार्थे (indeclinable: 'named')

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), हेतौ/निश्चये (indeed/for)

• आसते: they are sitting/engaged
• आसते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्

• स्वर्ग-काम्यया: with desire for heaven
• स्वर्ग-काम्यया: हेतु (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः ('desire for heaven'); स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; हेतौ (instrumental of cause)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas (Vedic ritualists)

FAQs

What is the Āṅgirasa-satra mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.23?

It is a satra—an extended Vedic sacrificial session—being performed by brāhmaṇas in the Aṅgirā tradition, undertaken here with the aim of attaining svarga (heaven).

Why were the brāhmaṇas at the place of sacrifice in Krishna’s Vrindavan pastimes?

They had gone to a devayajana (sacrificial arena) to conduct a Vedic ritual motivated by svarga-kāmyā—desire for heavenly results—setting the narrative stage for contrasting ritualism with devotion.

What practical lesson does this verse give about religion and spirituality?

It highlights how spiritual life can become result-driven (seeking ‘heavenly benefits’); the Bhagavatam’s broader lesson in this episode is to prioritize sincere devotion and service over mere ritual for rewards.