Shloka 41

Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Life in Dvārakā; the Captive Kings’ Appeal; Nārada Announces the Rājasūya

Devanagari script

यक्ष्यति त्वां मखेन्द्रेण राजसूयेन पाण्डव: । पारमेष्ठ्यकामो नृपतिस्तद् भवाननुमोदताम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

yakṣyati tvāṁ makhendreṇa rājasūyena pāṇḍavaḥ pārameṣṭhya-kāmo nṛpatis tad bhavān anumodatām

Translation

In dem Wunsch nach unvergleichlicher Oberherrschaft beabsichtigt König Yudhiṣṭhira von den Pāṇḍavas, Dich mit dem größten Opfer, dem Rājasūya, zu verehren. Bitte billige und segne sein Vorhaben.

Synonyms

• yakṣyati: will worship/sacrifice to
• yakṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yaj (यज् धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• makha-indreṇa: by the chief sacrifice/with the principal rite
• makha-indreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makha (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('lord of sacrifices' = chief rite/priestly arrangement)

• rājasūyena: by the Rājasūya (royal consecration sacrifice)
• rājasūyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājasūya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• pāṇḍavaḥ: the Pāṇḍava (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• pāṇḍavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇḍava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• pārameṣṭhya-kāmaḥ: desiring the highest sovereignty
• pārameṣṭhya-kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pārameṣṭhya (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ('desiring the supreme position')

• nṛpatiḥ: the king
• nṛpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• tat: that (proposal/act)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bhavān: you (sir)
• bhavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; आदरार्थक सर्वनाम (honorific 'you')

• anumodatām: please approve/consent
• anumodatām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√mud (मुद् धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd) — आदरार्थे मध्यमपुरुषार्थ (honorific usage), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: अनु

Purport

King Yudhiṣṭhira is described here as pārameṣṭhya-kāma, or “desiring pārameṣṭhya. ” The word pārameṣṭhya means “unrivaled supremacy” and also indicates “the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who stands at the very height of all existence.” Therefore, Śrīla Prabhupāda translates Nārada’s message as follows: “You have inquired about Your cousins the Pāṇḍavas in the role of their well-wisher, and therefore I shall let You know about their intentions. Now please hear me. First of all, may I inform You that King Yudhiṣṭhira has all material opulences that are possible to achieve in the highest planetary system, Brahmaloka. He has no material opulence for which to aspire, and yet he wants to perform the Rājasūya sacrifice only to get Your association and to please You.… He wants to worship You in order to achieve Your causeless mercy, and I beg to request You to fulfill his desires.”

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Yudhishthira
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Rājasūya yajña and worship of Krishna?

This verse states that the Pāṇḍava king plans to worship Krishna through the foremost sacrifice, the Rājasūya, recognizing Him as the true recipient and center of Vedic sacrifice.

Why did Uddhava tell Krishna about Yudhishthira’s Rājasūya sacrifice?

Uddhava conveys the Pandavas’ intention and seeks Krishna’s approval, since the sacrifice and its success ultimately depend on honoring Krishna as the supreme Lord and well-wisher.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Offer your achievements and “big goals” to God rather than ego—seeking divine approval and aligning ambition with devotion, humility, and dharma.