Shloka 38

Devanagari script

तस्य पुत्र: शतानीको याज्ञवल्‍क्यात् त्रयीं पठन् । अस्त्रज्ञानं क्रियाज्ञानं शौनकात् परमेष्यति ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

tasya putraḥ śatānīko yājñavalkyāt trayīṁ paṭhan astra-jñānaṁ kriyā-jñānaṁ śaunakāt param eṣyati

Translation

Janamejaya’s son Śatānīka will study the three Vedas and the knowledge of sacred rites from Yājñavalkya; he will learn the science of weapons from Kṛpācārya and the transcendental wisdom from the sage Śaunaka.

Synonyms

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• शतानीकः: Śatānīka
• शतानीकः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतानीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); proper name

• याज्ञवल्क्यात्: from Yājñavalkya
• याज्ञवल्क्यात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्ञवल्क्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• त्रयीम्: the Vedic triad (three Vedas)
• त्रयीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• पठन्: studying/reciting
• पठन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Parasmaipada; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with शतानीकः

• अस्त्रज्ञानम्: knowledge of weapons
• अस्त्रज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: अस्त्र (weapon) + ज्ञान (knowledge)

• क्रियाज्ञानम्: knowledge of rituals
• क्रियाज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: क्रिया (ritual action) + ज्ञान (knowledge)

• शौनकात्: from Śaunaka
• शौनकात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• परम्: further / supremely
• परम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially with eṣyati

• एष्यति: he will attain/learn
• एष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन) from √इ (to go/attain)

Characters & Entities

• Śatānīka
• Yājñavalkya
• Śaunaka

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vedic education and mastering the three Vedas (trayī)?

This verse states that Śatānīka studied the trayī (the three Vedas) from the sage Yājñavalkya, showing that disciplined Vedic study under a qualified guru is a key foundation of dharma and spiritual advancement.

Why are both weapon-knowledge (astrajñāna) and ritual-knowledge (kriyājñāna) mentioned together in this verse?

Because a righteous king must protect society (requiring astravidyā) and uphold dharma through proper sacred duties (requiring kriyājñāna). The Bhagavatam presents both as complementary when guided by dharma.

Practical application: What can modern readers learn from Śatānīka’s training described in this shloka?

Seek authentic teachers, learn systematically, and balance worldly responsibilities with spiritual discipline—using skills and knowledge in service of dharma rather than ego or exploitation.