Mahabharata 1.222.59 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 222, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

ततः सत्र॑ समभवत्‌ तस्य राज्ञो महात्मन: । यथाविधि यथाकाल यथोक्तं बहुदक्षिणम्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ satraṃ samabhavat tasya rājño mahātmanaḥ | yathāvidhi yathākālaṃ yathoktaṃ bahudakṣiṇam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Thereafter, that great-souled king commenced a sacrificial session (satra). It was carried out exactly as the scriptures prescribe—at the proper time and in the proper manner—and it was marked by abundant gifts given as sacrificial fees (dakṣiṇā).

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'tataḥ', 'definition': 'thereafter

• then'}, {'term': 'satra (satraṃ)', 'definition': 'a sacrificial session/rite, often extended and conducted according to strict ritual rules'}, {'term': 'samabhavat', 'definition': 'came to be

• commenced'}, {'term': 'tasya rājñaḥ', 'definition': 'of that king'}, {'term': 'mahātmanaḥ', 'definition': 'of the great-souled/noble-minded one'}, {'term': 'yathāvidhi', 'definition': 'according to proper procedure

• as enjoined by rule'}, {'term': 'yathākālam', 'definition': 'at the proper time

• seasonably'}, {'term': 'yathoktam', 'definition': 'as stated (in the śāstra/tradition)

• as prescribed'}, {'term': 'bahudakṣiṇam', 'definition': 'having abundant dakṣiṇā

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• a great-souled king (unnamed in this verse)
• satra (sacrificial session)
• dakṣiṇā (sacrificial gifts/fees)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma is shown as disciplined adherence to śāstric procedure (yathāvidhi), right timing (yathākāla), and faithful execution (yathoktam), joined with generosity through ample dakṣiṇā—suggesting that righteous action is both correct in method and benevolent in spirit.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the preceding events, a noble king begins a satra (a sacrificial session). The narrator emphasizes that the rite proceeds exactly according to prescribed rules and at the proper time, and that many gifts are distributed as dakṣiṇā.