Shloka 51

Kurukṣetra Pilgrimage: Sages Praise Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva Inquires on Karma; Viṣṇu-yajña Performed

Devanagari script

ईजेऽनुयज्ञं विधिना अग्निहोत्रादिलक्षणै: । प्राकृतैर्वैकृतैर्यज्ञैर्द्रव्यज्ञानक्रियेश्वरम् ॥ ५१ ॥

Transliteration

īje ’nu-yajñaṁ vidhinā agni-hotrādi-lakṣaṇaiḥ prākṛtair vaikṛtair yajñair dravya-jñāna-kriyeśvaram

Translation

Following the proper Vedic regulations, performing both primary and secondary sacrifices such as the agnihotra, Vasudeva worshiped Bhagavān, the Lord of yajña, master of all offerings, mantras, knowledge, and sacred rites.

Synonyms

• ईजे: worshipped, performed sacrifice
• ईजे: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• अनु-यज्ञम्: the subsidiary sacrifice
• अनु-यज्ञम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु (उपसर्ग) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म) एकवचन; ‘subsidiary sacrifice’; Accusative singular

• विधिना: according to the prescribed method
• विधिना: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; Instrumental singular ‘by rule/according to procedure’

• अग्निहोत्र-आदि-लक्षणैः: with (rites) characterized by agnihotra etc.
• अग्निहोत्र-आदि-लक्षणैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्निहोत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (अग्निहोत्रादीनि लक्षणानि येषाम्) ‘having characteristics such as agnihotra’; Instrumental plural

• प्राकृतैः: with ordinary (natural)
• प्राकृतैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; qualifies यज्ञैः

• वैकृतैः: with modified/special
• वैकृतैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; qualifies यज्ञैः

• यज्ञैः: by means of sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• द्रव्य-ज्ञान-क्रिया-ईश्वरम्: the Lord of materials, knowledge, and ritual action
• द्रव्य-ज्ञान-क्रिया-ईश्वरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (द्रव्यस्य ज्ञानस्य क्रियायाश्च ईश्वरः) ‘Lord of substance, knowledge, and action’; Accusative singular (object of īje)

Purport

There are numerous kinds of Vedic fire sacrifice, each of which involves several elaborate rituals. The Brāhmaṇa portion of the Vedic śruti specifies the complete step-by-step procedure of only a few prototype sacrifices, such as the Jyotiṣṭoma and Darśa-pūrṇamāsa. These are called the prākṛta, or original, yajñas; the details of other yajñas must be extrapolated from the patterns of these prākṛta injunctions according to the strict rules of the Mīmāṁsā-śāstra. Since other yajñas are thus known by derivation from the prototype sacrifices, they are called vaikṛta, or “changed.”

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about agnihotra and Vedic sacrifices?

This verse states that agnihotra and related rites, when performed according to proper injunctions, are forms of worship directed to the Supreme Lord, who presides over the ingredients, knowledge, and actions of yajña.

Who is being worshiped through the prākṛta and vaikṛta yajñas in Bhagavatam 10.84.51?

The object of worship is the Supreme Lord (Īśvara), described here as the controller of dravya (materials), jñāna (Vedic knowledge), and kriyā (ritual acts).

Practical application of this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

Offer one’s resources (dravya), learning (jñāna), and daily actions (kriyā) as service to God—keeping the spirit of yajña as disciplined, God-centered living rather than mere external performance.