Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 22

Purukutsa’s Rasātala Victory; Triśaṅku and Hariścandra; Rohita and Śunaḥśepha

Devanagari script

विश्वामित्रोऽभवत् तस्मिन् होता चाध्वर्युरात्मवान् । जमदग्निरभूद् ब्रह्मा वसिष्ठोऽयास्य: सामग: ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

viśvāmitro ’bhavat tasmin hotā cādhvaryur ātmavān jamadagnir abhūd brahmā vasiṣṭho ’yāsyaḥ sāma-gaḥ

Translation

En aquel gran sacrificio de puruṣamedha, Viśvāmitra fue el hotā que ofrecía las oblaciones; el autorrealizado Jamadagni fue el adhvaryu; Vasiṣṭha actuó como brahmā, sacerdote principal; y el sabio Ayāsya recitó los himnos del Sāma Veda como sāmagā.

Synonyms

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘became/was’

• तस्मिन्: in that (rite)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in that (sacrifice/occasion)’

• होता: Hotṛ (invoking priest)
• होता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ऋत्विज् (Hotṛ priest)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अध्वर्युः: Adhvaryu (officiating priest)
• अध्वर्युः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वर्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ऋत्विज् (Adhvaryu priest)

• आत्मवान्: self-possessed
• आत्मवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गुणवाचक (possessing self-control/strength)

• जमदग्निः: Jamadagni
• जमदग्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जमदग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘became/was’

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā-priest
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here ‘Brahmā’ = Brahman-priest (superintendent priest)

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयास्यः: Ayāsya
• अयास्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; name of Udgātṛ/chanting priest

• सामगः: Sāma-chanter
• सामगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘Sāma-singer’ (udgātṛ class)

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Jamadagni
• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the roles of hotā, adhvaryu, brahmā, and udgātā in a yajña?

This verse lists the principal priestly roles in a Vedic sacrifice—hotā (Ṛg-veda reciter), adhvaryu (ritual executor per Yajur-veda), brahmā (overall supervisor ensuring correctness), and udgātā (Sāma-veda chanter)—and names the sages who filled them.

Why are great sages like Viśvāmitra, Jamadagni, and Vasiṣṭha mentioned in the sacrifice?

The narrative emphasizes that the sacrifice was conducted with full Vedic authority and purity, with renowned ṛṣis occupying the key priestly posts, indicating strict adherence to dharma and proper yajña procedure.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life—what is the takeaway?

The verse highlights disciplined cooperation and qualified leadership: important duties are best carried out when trained, principled people take responsibility and work in harmony for a sacred purpose.