Shloka 17
Rājasūya: Agrapūjā for Kṛṣṇa and the Slaying (and Liberation) of Śiśupāla
सूत्येऽहन्यवनीपालो याजकान् सदसस्पतीन् । अपूजयन् महाभागान् यथावत् सुसमाहित: ॥ १७ ॥
sūtye ’hany avanī-pālo yājakān sadasas-patīn apūjayan mahā-bhāgān yathā-vat su-samāhitaḥ
On the day of pressing the soma, King Yudhiṣṭhira, fully attentive and composed, properly worshiped and honored the priests and the most exalted leaders of the assembly.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes in Kṛṣṇa: “According to the Vedic system, whenever there is an arrangement for sacrifice, the members participating in the sacrifice are offered the juice of the soma plant, which is a kind of life-giving beverage. On the day of extracting the soma juice, King Yudhiṣṭhira very respectfully received the special priest who had been engaged to detect any mistake in the formalities of sacrificial procedures. The idea is that the Vedic mantras must be enunciated perfectly and chanted with the proper accent; if the priests who are engaged in this business commit any mistake, the checker, or referee priest, immediately corrects the procedure, and thus the ritualistic performances are perfectly executed. Unless it is perfectly executed, a sacrifice cannot yield the desired result. In this Age of Kali there is no such learned brāhmaṇa or priest available; therefore, all such sacrifices are forbidden. The only sacrifice recommended in the śāstras is the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.”
FAQs
This verse shows that righteous leadership includes properly honoring the officiating priests and the assembly’s respected elders, with full attention and correct procedure.
Because the Bhagavatam emphasizes that sacred duties should be performed with steadiness, mindfulness, and adherence to dharma, not carelessly or for pride.
Approach important duties with focus and integrity, and show sincere respect to teachers, elders, and those serving a sacred or meaningful purpose.