Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 6

Manvantara Administration: Appointment of Manus, Indras, and the Restoration of Dharma

Devanagari script

पालयन्ति प्रजापाला यावदन्तं विभागश: । यज्ञभागभुजो देवा ये च तत्रान्विताश्च तै: ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

pālayanti prajā-pālā yāvad antaṁ vibhāgaśaḥ yajña-bhāga-bhujo devā ye ca tatrānvitāś ca taiḥ

Translation

Afin de jouir des fruits des yajñas, les protecteurs des êtres—fils et petits-fils de Manu—exécutent, selon la juste répartition, les ordres du Bhagavān jusqu’à la fin du règne de Manu. Les devas, qui reçoivent leur part du sacrifice, en partagent aussi les résultats.

Synonyms

• पालयन्ति: they protect/maintain
• पालयन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• प्रजा-पालाḥ: protectors of the subjects
• प्रजा-पालाḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): प्रजानां पालाḥ

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), सम्बन्धाव्यय (correlative adverb): 'as long as/until'

• अन्तम्: the end/limit
• अन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• विभागशः: according to their shares
• विभागशः: Rīti/Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (रीति/प्रकाराधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), तद्धितान्त अव्यय (śas-unādi/शस्): 'according to division/portion-wise'

• यज्ञ-भाग-भुजः: enjoyers of sacrificial portions
• यज्ञ-भाग-भुजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः 'यज्ञस्य भागः' + उपपद-तत्पुरुषः 'भागं भुङ्क्ते' → 'भागभुक्' (भुज्-धातु-निष्पन्न)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural); सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (locative adverb): 'there/in that (sacrifice)'

• अन्विताः: associated/present
• अन्विताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्वि + इ (धातु) → अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तैः: by them/with them
• तैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

Purport

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.2) :

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the role of rulers in protecting society?

This verse states that prajā-pālas (rulers) protect citizens within clearly defined jurisdictions, maintaining order according to proper divisions.

What is meant by 'yajña-bhāga-bhujaḥ devāḥ' in Bhagavatam?

It refers to the demigods who receive their allotted portions through sacrifice (yajña), and who, along with their associates, uphold the functioning of their respective cosmic departments.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

It encourages responsible leadership, clear boundaries of duty, and honoring sacred obligations—recognizing that harmony arises when each role is performed according to dharma.