Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 36

Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention

False Renunciation Exposed

Devanagari script

एभिरिन्द्रोपसंसृष्टै: पाखण्डैर्हारिभिर्जनम् । ह्रियमाणं विचक्ष्वैनं यस्ते यज्ञध्रुगश्वमुट् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

ebhir indropasaṁsṛṣṭaiḥ pākhaṇḍair hāribhir janam hriyamāṇaṁ vicakṣvainaṁ yas te yajña-dhrug aśva-muṭ

Translation

Just see: Indra, king of heaven, is disturbing the sacrifice by stealing the sacrificial horse. These alluring yet sinful hypocritical practices he has introduced will later be adopted by people in general.

Synonyms

• एभिः: by these
• एभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• इन्द्र-उपसंसृष्टैः: instigated by Indra
• इन्द्र-उपसंसृष्टैः: विशेषण (Qualifier of पाखण्डैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्र + उपसंसृष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रेण उपसंसृष्ट = contrived/instigated by Indra)

• पाखण्डैः: by heresies/false practices
• पाखण्डैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• हारिभिः: bewitching/enticing
• हारिभिः: विशेषण (Qualifier of पाखण्डैः/means)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); जनम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• जनम्: people
• जनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• ह्रियमाणम्: being carried away
• ह्रियमाणम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of जनम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present passive participle), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); जनम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• विचक्ष्व: see/notice
• विचक्ष्व: विधेय (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• एनम्: this one
• एनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• ते: your
• ते: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• यज्ञ-ध्रुक्: spoiler of the sacrifice
• यज्ञ-ध्रुक्: विशेषण (Apposition to यः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + ध्रुज्/ध्रुक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञं ध्रुजति/दूषयति इति)

• अश्व-मुट्: horse-stealer
• अश्व-मुट्: विशेषण (Apposition to यः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व + मुट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); तत्पुरुषः (अश्वं मुणाति/हरति इति = horse-stealer)

Purport

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.21) :

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Pṛthu Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pākhaṇḍa (hypocrisy) and false religion?

This verse warns that heretical, impostor practices can “carry away” the public—misleading people from true dharma, even when such deception is promoted by powerful figures.

Why did Pṛthu Mahārāja’s followers say this about Indra and the horse thief?

In the Aśvamedha context, Indra—out of envy—created deceptive disguises and caused the sacrificial horse to be taken, threatening to disrupt Pṛthu’s sacrifice; the followers alert Pṛthu to the fraud and the danger to the yajña.

Practical application: how can I avoid being misled by “cheating religion” today?

Use discernment: test teachings by their alignment with dharma, humility, and genuine devotion, and avoid paths that rely on deception, ego, or exploitation while claiming spirituality.