Shloka 19

Rājasūya: Agrapūjā for Kṛṣṇa and the Slaying (and Liberation) of Śiśupāla

Devanagari script

अर्हति ह्यच्युत: श्रैष्ठ्यं भगवान् सात्वतां पति: । एष वै देवता: सर्वा देशकालधनादय: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

arhati hy acyutaḥ śraiṣṭhyaṁ bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ eṣa vai devatāḥ sarvā deśa-kāla-dhanādayaḥ

Translation

[Sahadeva said:] Surely Acyuta—the Bhagavān, Lord of the Sātvatas—deserves the highest honor. In truth, He Himself is all the deities worshiped in sacrifice, and also the sacred place, the time, and all the wealth and paraphernalia of worship.

Synonyms

• arhati: is worthy, deserves
• arhati: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Reason particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• acyutaḥ: Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa)
• acyutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: acyuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• śraiṣṭhyam: preeminence, highest honor
• śraiṣṭhyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraiṣṭhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sātvatām: of the Sātvatas (Yādavas/devotees)
• sātvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sātvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• patiḥ: lord
• patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• eṣaḥ: this one
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• devatāḥ: deities
• devatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with devatāḥ)

• deśa-kāla-dhana-ādayaḥ: place, time, wealth, and so on
• deśa-kāla-dhana-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa + kāla + dhana + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (place, time, wealth, etc.)

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being above the demigods?

This verse states that Acyuta (Kṛṣṇa) is all the devatās and also the underlying reality of factors like place, time, and wealth—therefore He is worthy of the highest honor.

Why did Shishupala speak about honoring Krishna in the Rajasūya assembly?

In the debate over who should receive the foremost worship (agra-pūjā), Śiśupāla addresses Kṛṣṇa’s claim to supreme honor—within the narrative this becomes part of the confrontation that culminates in Śiśupāla’s downfall.

How can the teaching of this shloka be applied in modern life?

It encourages prioritizing devotion to the Supreme (seeing God’s presence behind time, resources, and circumstances) and using one’s wealth, time, and place in service rather than ego-centered competition for prestige.