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Shloka 28

Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention

False Renunciation Exposed

वयं मरुत्वन्तमिहार्थनाशनंह्वयामहे त्वच्छ्रवसा हतत्विषम् । अयातयामोपहवैरनन्तरंप्रसह्य राजन् जुहवाम तेऽहितम् ॥ २८ ॥

vayaṁ marutvantam ihārtha-nāśanaṁ hvayāmahe tvac-chravasā hata-tviṣam ayātayāmopahavair anantaraṁ prasahya rājan juhavāma te ’hitam

Oh rey, por intentar impedir tu sacrificio, el poder de Indra ya se ha debilitado. Lo invocaremos con mantras védicos jamás usados; sin duda vendrá, y por la fuerza del mantra lo arrojaremos al fuego como a tu enemigo.

vayamwe
vayam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); pronoun
marutvantamMarutvān (Indra)
marutvantam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmarutvant (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
ihahere
iha:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiha (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय)
artha-nāśanamdestroyer of (our) aim
artha-nāśanam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootartha (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying marutvantam: ‘destroyer of purpose/wealth’
hvayāmahewe invoke/call
hvayāmahe:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√hvā (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)
tvac-chravasāby your fame
tvac-chravasā:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Roottvac (प्रातिपदिक) + śravas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘by your fame/renown’
hata-tviṣamwith splendor destroyed
hata-tviṣam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Roothata (कृदन्त; √han/हन्, क्त) + tviṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying marutvantam: ‘whose splendor is struck down’
ayātayāma-upahavaiḥwith irresistible provocations
ayātayāma-upahavaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootayātayāma (प्रातिपदिक; ‘not to be deferred/irresistible’) + upahava (प्रातिपदिक; ‘challenge/taunt’)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘with irresistible challenges/taunts’
anantaramimmediately
anantaram:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootanantara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपे द्वितीया) meaning ‘immediately/without interval’
prasahyaforcibly
prasahya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√sah (धातु) absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)
FormAbsolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त), indeclinable; ‘having forced/forcibly’
rājanO king
rājan:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootrājan (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)
juhavāmawe offer/sacrifice
juhavāma:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√hu (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
tefor you/to you
te:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootyusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormDative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन) (enclitic)
ahitamharm/ill
ahitam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootahita (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

By chanting the Vedic mantras properly in a sacrifice, one can perform many wonderful things. In Kali-yuga, however, there are no qualified brāhmaṇas who can chant the mantras properly. Consequently no attempt should be made to perform such big sacrifices. In this age the only sacrifice recommended is the saṅkīrtana movement.

P
Pṛthu
I
Indra (Marutvān)
M
Maruts

FAQs

Because Indra was obstructing King Pṛthu’s horse sacrifice; the priests propose calling him into the sacrificial arena so he can be checked and symbolically punished as an offender of the yajña.

King Pṛthu’s priests (ṛtviks) are speaking to King Pṛthu, advising a forceful ritual response against Indra’s interference.

When facing obstruction and injustice, discipline and adherence to dharma matter; however, the broader narrative also cautions that power should be guided by restraint and higher spiritual purpose, not anger.