Shloka 12

The Glory of Prayāga

Mahātmyā of the Confluence

Devanagari script

ऋषिभिः क्रतवः प्रोक्ता देवैश्चापि यथाक्रमम् । न हि शक्या दरिद्रेण यज्ञाः प्राप्तुं महीपते

Transliteration

ṛṣibhiḥ kratavaḥ proktā devaiścāpi yathākramam | na hi śakyā daridreṇa yajñāḥ prāptuṃ mahīpate

Translation

The sacrificial rites (kratus) have been prescribed by the sages and also by the gods, in due order. Yet for a poor man, O king, it is indeed not possible to undertake and complete the yajñas.

Word by Word

• ऋषिभिः: by sages
• ऋषिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• क्रतवः: sacrifices/rites
• क्रतवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्रोक्ताः: were declared/taught
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

• देवैः: by gods
• देवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• यथा-क्रमम्: in due order
• यथा-क्रमम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (यथाक्रमम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन as adverbial accusative

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/हेतु-निपात (emphatic particle)

• शक्याः: possible/feasible
• शक्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्य (शक् धातु + यत्/णीयत् भाव)
• Form: कृदन्त (शक्य = possible), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate adjective with यज्ञाः

• दरिद्रेण: by a poor man
• दरिद्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दरिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यज्ञाः: sacrifices
• यज्ञाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• प्राप्तुम्: to obtain/achieve
• प्राप्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitive purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to obtain/perform’

• महीपते: O king
• महीपते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; (मही + पति)

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative voice addressing a king: 'mahīpate')

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवैः + च + अपि → देवैश्चापि; यथा + क्रमम् → यथाक्रमम् (अव्ययीभाव)

Characters & Entities

• Rishis
• Devas

FAQs

Why does the verse say sacrifices are not possible for the poor?

Because Vedic yajñas typically require materials, offerings, and patronage; the verse acknowledges that economic limitation can make formal ritual performance impracticable.

What is meant by 'kratu' in this context?

Kratu refers to an organized sacrificial rite—often a formally prescribed Vedic sacrifice—arranged in a recognized sequence and procedure.

What ethical lesson does this verse imply for kings and society?

It suggests rulers should recognize material constraints in religious life and support dharmic practice without making ritual obligation oppressive for those with fewer resources.