Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 41

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

False Renunciation Exposed

Devanagari script

विप्रा: सत्याशिषस्तुष्टा: श्रद्धया लब्धदक्षिणा: । आशिषो युयुजु: क्षत्तरादिराजाय सत्कृता: ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

viprāḥ satyāśiṣas tuṣṭāḥ śraddhayā labdha-dakṣiṇāḥ āśiṣo yuyujuḥ kṣattar ādi-rājāya sat-kṛtāḥ

Translation

Les brāhmaṇas présents au sacrifice reçurent la dakṣiṇā avec foi et, comblés, donnèrent des bénédictions véridiques. Dûment honorés, ils offrirent de tout cœur leurs vœux au roi primordial, Pṛthu.

Synonyms

• viprāḥ: brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• satya-āśiṣaḥ: whose blessings are true
• satya-āśiṣaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + āśis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘सत्याः आशिषः’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘विप्राः’ इति विशेषणम्

• tuṣṭāḥ: pleased
• tuṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tuṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘विप्राः’ इति विशेषणम्

• śraddhayā: with faith
• śraddhayā: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śraddhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• labdha-dakṣiṇāḥ: having received gifts (dakṣiṇā)
• labdha-dakṣiṇāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labdha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + dakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारयभाव: ‘लब्धा दक्षिणा येषाम्’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘विप्राः’ इति विशेषणम्

• āśiṣaḥ: blessings
• āśiṣaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• yuyujuḥ: bestowed/applied
• yuyujuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yuj (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• kṣattar: O Kṣattar (Vidura)
• kṣattar: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣattṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• ādi-rājāya: to the foremost king
• ādi-rājāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘आदिः राजा’); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• sat-kṛtāḥ: honored, well-received
• sat-kṛtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (‘सत्’ + कृत); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘विप्राः’ इति विशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• Pṛthu Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about honoring brāhmaṇas and giving dakṣiṇā?

This verse teaches that when brāhmaṇas are respectfully honored and given dakṣiṇā with faith, they become satisfied and bestow infallible auspicious blessings.

Why did the brāhmaṇas bless Pṛthu Mahārāja in Canto 4?

Because Pṛthu, as the ideal ruler, properly conducted religious duties and honored the brāhmaṇas; being satisfied and respected, they invoked benedictions upon him.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life according to Bhagavatam?

Serve and honor saintly, learned devotees with sincerity, offer support in a faithful spirit, and seek blessings through humility rather than entitlement.