Shloka 24

Devanagari script

सोमेन याजयन् वीरं ग्रहं सोमस्य चाग्रहीत् । असोमपोरप्यश्विनोश्‍च्यवन: स्वेन तेजसा ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

somena yājayan vīraṁ grahaṁ somasya cāgrahīt asoma-por apy aśvinoś cyavanaḥ svena tejasā

Translation

By his own spiritual prowess, Cyavana Muni enabled the valiant King Śaryāti to perform the soma-yajña and to receive the soma portion. Though the Aśvinī-kumāras were not qualified to drink it, the sage still offered them a full vessel of soma-rasa.

Synonyms

• somena: with Soma (juice)
• somena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yājayan: causing (him) to perform sacrifice; officiating
• yājayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yājayat (कृदन्त; √yaj धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); present active participle (शतृ) of causative: 'causing to sacrifice'

• vīram: the hero (king)
• vīram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• graham: a libation; Soma-cup
• graham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• somasya: of Soma
• somasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• agrahīt: took; accepted
• agrahīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√grah (ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• asoma-paḥ: non-drinker of Soma
• asoma-paḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-soma + pa (प्रातिपदिक; √पा धातु)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); नञ्-तत्पुरुष: असोमं पिबति/पः (one who does not drink Soma)

• api: even; also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive/emphatic

• aśvinoḥ: of the Aśvins (two)
• aśvinoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• cyavanaḥ: Cyavana (sage)
• cyavanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cyavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• svena: by his own
• svena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); possessive adjective qualifying tejasā

• tejasā: splendour; power
• tejasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Cyavana Ṛṣi
• Soma-deva
• Aśvinī-kumāras

FAQs

Why were the Aśvinī-kumāras not allowed to drink Soma in Vedic sacrifices?

This verse indicates they were considered “asomapāḥ”—excluded from Soma—so they were denied a sacrificial share; Cyavana Ṛṣi later used his spiritual influence to secure their portion.

What does Bhagavatam 9.3.24 teach about the power of a ṛṣi in a yajña?

It shows that an empowered brāhmaṇa like Cyavana can determine sacrificial entitlements and even alter established exclusions through his tejas (spiritual potency).

How can the lesson of “eligibility and rightful share” be applied in modern life?

It encourages respecting proper qualifications and roles, while also reminding us that wise, principled leadership can correct unfair exclusions when guided by higher values.