Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 5
Genealogies of Svāyambhuva Manu, the Appearance of Yajña, and Atri’s Sons
Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Śiva Expansions
आनिन्ये स्वगृहं पुत्र्या: पुत्रं विततरोचिषम् । स्वायम्भुवो मुदा युक्तो रुचिर्जग्राह दक्षिणाम् ॥ ५ ॥
āninye sva-gṛhaṁ putryāḥ putraṁ vitata-rociṣam svāyambhuvo mudā yukto rucir jagrāha dakṣiṇām
Svāyambhuva Manu, tout joyeux, ramena chez lui le garçon resplendissant nommé Yajña, fils de sa fille; et Ruci, son gendre, garda auprès de lui Dakṣiṇā.
Svāyambhuva Manu was very glad to see that his daughter Ākūti had given birth to both a boy and girl. He was afraid that he would take one son and that because of this his son-in-law Ruci might be sorry. Thus when he heard that a daughter was born along with the boy, he was very glad. Ruci, according to his promise, returned his male child to Svāyambhuva Manu and decided to keep the daughter, whose name was Dakṣiṇā. One of Lord Viṣṇu’s names is Yajña because He is the master of the Vedas. The name Yajña comes from yajuṣāṁ patiḥ, which means “Lord of all sacrifices.” In the Yajur Veda there are different ritualistic prescriptions for performing yajñas, and the beneficiary of all such yajñas is the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu. Therefore it is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.9) , yajñārthāt karmaṇaḥ: one should act, but one should perform one’s prescribed duties only for the sake of Yajña, or Viṣṇu. lf one does not act for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or if one does not perform devotional service, then there will be reactions to all one’s activities. It does not matter if the reaction is good or bad; if our activities are not dovetailed with the desire of the Supreme Lord, or if we do not act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then we shall be responsible for the results of all our activities. There is always a reaction to every kind of action, but if actions are performed for Yajña, there is no reaction. Thus if one acts for Yajña, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is not entangled in the material condition, for it is mentioned in the Vedas and also in Bhagavad-gītā that the Vedas and the Vedic rituals are all meant for understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. From the very beginning one should try to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness; that will free one from the reactions of material activities.
FAQs
It states that the sage Ruci accepted Dakṣiṇā as his wife, and Svāyambhuva Manu joyfully brought home the radiant grandson born from his daughter.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this section of Canto 4 to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
It highlights dharmic family responsibility—honoring sacred relationships, welcoming new life with gratitude, and upholding orderly, value-based household life.