Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 24

Puruṣa-sūkta Logic of the Virāṭ: Cosmic Anatomy, Sacrifice, and the Lord’s Transcendence

Devanagari script

तेषु यज्ञस्य पशव: सवनस्पतय: कुशा: । इदं च देवयजनं कालश्चोरुगुणान्वित: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

teṣu yajñasya paśavaḥ savanaspatayaḥ kuśāḥ idaṁ ca deva-yajanaṁ kālaś coru-guṇānvitaḥ

Translation

Zur Ausführung des Yajña bedarf es Opferzutaten wie Opfertiere, Sāvana-Pflanzen und Kuśa-Gras, dazu des Opferaltars zur Verehrung der Devas und einer geeigneten, qualitätsvollen Zeit, etwa des Frühlings.

Synonyms

• teṣu: among/in those
• teṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन

• yajñasya: of the sacrifice
• yajñasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• paśavaḥ: animals (sacrificial beasts)
• paśavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; items enumerated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• savana-spatayaḥ: soma plants (lords of savana)
• savana-spatayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; items enumerated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: savana (प्रातिपदिक) + spati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (lords of the pressings: Soma plants)

• kuśāḥ: kuśa grass
• kuśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; items enumerated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• idam: this
• idam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; item enumerated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (this)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• deva-yajanam: worship of the gods/sacrificial rite
• deva-yajanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; item enumerated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + yajana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (worship/sacrifice to the gods)

• kālaḥ: time
• kālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; item enumerated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• uru-guṇa-anvitaḥ: endowed with many qualities
• uru-guṇa-anvitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of kālaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uru (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + anvita (प्रातिपदिक; √i/anu-√i? adjectival)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (endowed with abundant qualities)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about yajna (sacrifice) and its components?

This verse lists key yajña elements—sacrificial animals, soma-related plants, kuśa grass, and the devayajana (sacrificial arena)—as integral parts of the divinely ordered cosmic arrangement.

Why does the Bhagavatam mention Kāla (Time) along with ritual items like kuśa grass and devayajana?

It emphasizes that Time is not merely a backdrop but a powerful divine principle governing all processes, including ritual action and its results, within the cosmic order being described.

Practical application of the concept of Kāla (Time) in modern life according to this shloka?

Recognize time as a higher, governing force—use it responsibly for dharmic actions, spiritual discipline, and devotion, rather than wasting it in distraction.