Shloka 9
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
Great sages such as Viśvāmitra and the others were fully capable of executing every limb of the yajña according to rule. By choosing them, the king’s sacrifice became supremely pure and splendid.
King Yudhiṣṭhira invited all these exalted brāhmaṇas to act in different capacities as priests, advisers and so on.
FAQs
This verse lists prominent sages such as Vyāsa (Dvaipāyana), Bharadvāja, Vasiṣṭha, Maitreya, Kaṇva and others as attendees at the Rājasūya.
To show the extraordinary sanctity and Vedic legitimacy of the Rājasūya assembly, where the greatest brāhmaṇa sages witnessed Kṛṣṇa’s position and the unfolding events.
It highlights honoring wisdom, learning from saintly guidance, and grounding major decisions in dharma rather than ego or popularity.