Shloka 7
Rājasūya: Agrapūjā for Kṛṣṇa and the Slaying (and Liberation) of Śiśupāla
द्वैपायनो भरद्वाज: सुमन्तुर्गोतमोऽसित: । वसिष्ठश्च्यवन: कण्वो मैत्रेय: कवषस्त्रित: ॥ ७ ॥ विश्वामित्रो वामदेव: सुमतिर्जैमिनि: क्रतु: । पैल: पराशरो गर्गो वैशम्पायन एव च ॥ ८ ॥ अथर्वा कश्यपो धौम्यो रामो भार्गव आसुरि: । वीतिहोत्रो मधुच्छन्दा वीरसेनोऽकृतव्रण: ॥ ९ ॥
dvaipāyano bharadvājaḥ sumantur gotamo ’sitaḥ vasiṣṭhaś cyavanaḥ kaṇvo maitreyaḥ kavaṣas tritaḥ
He selected Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana (Vyāsa), Bharadvāja, Sumantu, Gotama and Asita, along with Vasiṣṭha, Cyavana, Kaṇva, Maitreya, Kavaṣa and Trita. He also chose Viśvāmitra, Vāmadeva, Sumati, Jaimini, Kratu, Paila and Parāśara, as well as Garga, Vaiśampāyana, Atharvā, Kaśyapa, Dhaumya, Rāma of the Bhārgavas, Āsuri, Vītihotra, Madhucchandā, Vīrasena and Akṛtavraṇa, appointing them as ṛtvij priests for the sacrifice.
King Yudhiṣṭhira invited all these exalted brāhmaṇas to act in different capacities as priests, advisers and so on.
FAQs
This verse names prominent ṛṣis—such as Vyāsa, Bharadvāja, Vasiṣṭha, Kaṇva and Maitreya—who attended the Rājasūya, showing the sacrifice was honored by the highest Vedic authorities.
He is describing the grandeur and legitimacy of the Rājasūya: the presence of renowned sages indicates that the assembly and the sacrificial proceedings were conducted according to dharma and witnessed by saintly authorities.
Seek saintly guidance and keep spiritually serious company—important decisions and worship become purified and steady when supported by sādhus and scriptural authority.