Shloka 10
अथायजत यज्ञेशं क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणै: । द्रव्यक्रियादेवतानां कर्म कर्मफलप्रदम् ॥ १० ॥
athāyajata yajñeśaṁ kratubhir bhūri-dakṣiṇaiḥ dravya-kriyā-devatānāṁ karma karma-phala-pradam
While he remained at home, Dhruva Mahārāja performed many great sacrifices, rich with gifts, to please Yajñeśa—the Lord and enjoyer of all sacrifices, Śrī Viṣṇu. Prescribed sacrifices are meant especially for Viṣṇu’s satisfaction; He is their goal and the giver of their results.
In Bhagavad-gītā (3.9) it is said, yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ: one should act or work only in order to please the Supreme Lord; otherwise one becomes entangled in the resultant reactions. According to the four divisions of varṇa and āśrama, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas are especially advised to perform great ceremonial sacrifices and to distribute their accumulated money very liberally. Dhruva Mahārāja, as a king and ideal kṣatriya, performed many such sacrifices, giving very liberally in charity. Kṣatriyas and vaiśyas are supposed to earn their money and accumulate great riches. Sometimes they do it by acting sinfully. Kṣatriyas are meant to rule over a country; Dhruva Mahārāja, for example, in the course of ruling, had to fight and kill many Yakṣas. Such action is necessary for kṣatriyas. A kṣatriya should not be a coward, and he should not be nonviolent; to rule over the country he has to act violently.
FAQs
This verse identifies Viṣṇu as Yajñeśa, the true Lord to be worshiped through sacrifice, indicating that yajña is ultimately meant for pleasing Him.
After attaining spiritual maturity and returning to his royal duties, Dhruva honored the Lord through properly executed sacrifices, offering generous gifts as part of righteous kingly conduct (dharma).
Act with the right “ingredients”—sincerity, correct method, and a higher purpose—because outcomes depend on how actions are performed, not merely on intention.