Shloka 13
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Homecoming, Sacrificial Assembly, and Instruction on Devotional Kingship
एकदासीन्महासत्रदीक्षा तत्र दिवौकसाम् । समाजो ब्रह्मर्षीणां च राजर्षीणां च सत्तम ॥ १३ ॥
ekadāsīn mahā-satra- dīkṣā tatra divaukasām samājo brahmarṣīṇāṁ ca rājarṣīṇāṁ ca sattama
Once, King Pṛthu accepted initiation for a most magnificent sacrifice, a mahāsatra. There assembled the demigods of higher realms, brahmarṣis, exalted brāhmaṇas, and saintly kings renowned as rājarṣis.
In this verse the most significant point is that although King Pṛthu’s residential quarters were in India, between the rivers Ganges and Yamunā, the demigods also participated in the great sacrifice he performed. This indicates that formerly the demigods used to come to this planet. Similarly, great personalities like Arjuna, Yudhiṣṭhira and many others used to visit higher planetary systems. Thus there was interplanetary communication via suitable airplanes and space vehicles.
FAQs
A mahāsatra is a grand, extended Vedic sacrificial session; this verse notes that such a major yajña-dīkṣā drew demigods, brahmarṣis, and rājarṣis to assemble.
Because a properly conducted sacrifice is a major dharmic event that invokes cosmic participation—demigods, saintly brāhmaṇas, and saintly kings come to witness and bless such sacred proceedings.
By cultivating a spirit of sacred offering—regular worship, charity, service to saints, and especially devotion (bhakti) performed with purity and discipline, like a consecrated commitment (dīkṣā).