Shloka 24

Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)

Devanagari script

सत्रमाहर्तुकामस्य संवत्सरशतं किल । ऋषत्विजो नाभ्यपद्यन्त समाहर्तु महात्मन:,इस प्रकार यज्ञपरायण राजाके मनमें किसी समय यह संकल्प उठा कि मैं सौ वर्षोतक चालू रहनेवाला एक सत्र प्रारम्भ करूँ; परंतु उन महामनाको वह यज्ञ आरम्य करनेके लिये ऋत्विज ही नहीं मिले

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca | satram āhartukāmasya saṃvatsaraśataṃ kila | ṛṣṭvijo nābhyapadyanta samāhartum mahātmanaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: It is said that when that great-souled king desired to institute a satra-sacrifice lasting a hundred years, the seer-priests (ṛtvija) did not consent to undertake and commence the performance for him.

Word by Word

सत्रम्sattra-sacrifice (sessional rite)

आहर्तुकामस्यof (him) desiring to commence/undertake

संवत्सरशतम्a hundred years

किलindeed/it is said

ऋषयःsages

ऋत्विजःpriests (ritviks)

नnot

अभ्यपद्यन्तundertook/consented/engaged (in)

समाहर्तुम्to perform/undertake (fully)

महात्मनःof the great-souled (king/person)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

mahātmā rājā (the great-souled king, unnamed here)

Ṛ

ṛtvijaḥ (sacrificial priests)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even a powerful king’s religious ambition must align with dharma and communal/ritual norms: a sacrifice is not merely commanded but requires qualified priests’ willing participation, implying that legitimacy and ethical standing matter as much as resources or authority.

What is happening in the narrative?

A great-souled king forms the resolve to begin a hundred-year satra-sacrifice, but he cannot find officiating priests who will agree to undertake it; the narration highlights an obstacle to initiating the rite.