Shloka 43

Kurukṣetra Pilgrimage: Sages Praise Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva Inquires on Karma; Viṣṇu-yajña Performed

Devanagari script

त एनमृषयो राजन् वृता धर्मेण धार्मिकम् । तस्मिन्नयाजयन् क्षेत्रे मखैरुत्तमकल्पकै: ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

ta enam ṛṣayo rājan vṛtā dharmeṇa dhārmikam tasminn ayājayan kṣetre makhair uttama-kalpakaiḥ

Translation

So, o König, auf seine Bitte hin und gemäß dem Dharma, ließen die Weisen den frommen Vasudeva auf dem heiligen Feld von Kurukṣetra Feueryajñas mit den vortrefflichsten rituellen Anordnungen vollziehen.

Synonyms

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्/एन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन; ‘ते’ इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन

• राजन्: O King
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• वृताः: chosen
• वृताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle): ‘chosen’; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom./1st), बहुवचन; ‘ऋषयः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• धर्मेण: by righteousness/according to rule
• धर्मेण: Karana (करण/Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr./3rd), एकवचन

• धार्मिकम्: the righteous one
• धार्मिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc./2nd), एकवचन; ‘एनम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तस्मिन्: in that (place)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (Loc./7th), एकवचन

• अयाजयन्: they caused (him) to perform sacrifice / officiated
• अयाजयन्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) ‘याजयति’; लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• क्षेत्रे: in the sacred field/place
• क्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (Loc./7th), एकवचन

• मखैः: with sacrifices
• मखैः: Karana (करण/Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr./3rd), बहुवचन

• उत्तम-कल्पकैः: with excellently arranged (rites)
• उत्तम-कल्पकैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘उत्तमाः कल्पकाः’ (excellent/most fitting); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया (Instr./3rd), बहुवचन; ‘मखैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• the ṛṣis (sages)
• the righteous king (unnamed in this verse)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about honoring sages (ṛṣis) properly?

This verse states that when sages are duly received according to dharma, they in turn guide the righteous king to perform elevated sacrifices in a holy place—showing a reciprocal culture of respect that strengthens dharma.

Why do the sages engage a king in yajña in the Bhagavatam?

In the narrative, the ṛṣis act as spiritual guides for rulers: after being properly honored, they direct the king toward sacred, dharma-aligned actions—here, conducting excellent Vedic sacrifices in a holy kṣetra.

Practical application: how can I apply this verse in modern life?

Honor saintly teachers and genuine spiritual guides with sincerity and proper conduct, and let that association inspire disciplined, sacred practices—service, charity, worship, and duty performed in a purified spirit.