Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 16

The Six Dvīpas Beyond Jambūdvīpa and the Cosmic Boundary of Lokāloka

Devanagari script

यासां पयोभि: कुशद्वीपौकस: कुशलकोविदाभियुक्तकुलकसंज्ञा भगवन्तं जातवेदसरूपिणं कर्मकौशलेन यजन्ते ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

yāsāṁ payobhiḥ kuśadvīpaukasaḥ kuśala-kovidābhiyukta-kulaka-saṁjñā bhagavantaṁ jātaveda-sarūpiṇaṁ karma-kauśalena yajante.

Translation

By bathing in the waters of those rivers, the people of Kuśadvīpa become purified. They are known as the Kuśalas, Kovidas, Abhiyuktas, and Kulakas—corresponding respectively to brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras. Skilled in Vedic rites according to scriptural injunction, they worship Bhagavān in His aspect as Jātavedas, the fire-god.

Synonyms

• यासाम्: of which
• यासाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; relative pronoun ‘of which (rivers)’

• पयोभिः: with (their) waters
• पयोभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental plural ‘with waters’

• कुशद्वीप-ओकसः: the inhabitants of Kuśadvīpa
• कुशद्वीप-ओकसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशद्वीप (प्रातिपदिक) + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘inhabitants of Kuśadvīpa’

• कुशल-कोविद-अभियुक्त-कुलक-संज्ञाः: known as skilled, expert, and devoted groups
• कुशल-कोविद-अभियुक्त-कुलक-संज्ञाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुशल (प्रातिपदिक) + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक) + अभियुक्त (प्रातिपदिक/क्त) + कुलक (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘those whose designation is (as) groups engaged and expert in skill’

• भगवन्तम्: the Lord
• भगवन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of यजन्ते

• जातवेद-सरूपिणम्: in the form of Jātavedas (Agni)
• जातवेद-सरूपिणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जातवेदस् (प्रातिपदिक) + सरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to भगवन्तम् ‘having the form of Jātavedas (Agni)’

• कर्म-कौशलेन: with ritual expertise
• कर्म-कौशलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कौशल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental ‘by ritual skill’

• यजन्ते: they worship
• यजन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘they worship/sacrifice’

Characters & Entities

• Jātavedā (Agni)
• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping the Lord as Agni (Jātavedā)?

This verse states that in Kuśadvīpa the residents worship Bhagavān in the form of Jātavedā (Agni), showing that the Lord may be approached through authorized divine manifestations within Vedic worship.

Why are the Kuśadvīpa inhabitants described as expert in ritual (karma-kauśala)?

Because they are portrayed as learned and properly engaged in sacrificial procedures, offering worship with precision—indicating disciplined, dharmic practice aligned with devotion.

How can modern devotees apply the teaching of karma-kauśala from this shloka?

Offer worship with care and sincerity—doing one’s spiritual practices attentively, correctly, and as an offering to the Supreme Lord rather than as mere routine.