Shloka 23

Jarāsandha as Obstacle to the Rājasūya — Kṛṣṇa’s Strategic Genealogical Brief

Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 13

Devanagari script

तस्य यज्ञस्थ समय: स्वाधीन: क्षत्रसम्पदा । साम्ना षडग्नयो यस्मिंश्षीयन्ते शंसितव्रतैः,“उस यज्ञका समय क्षत्रसम्पत्ति यानी सेना आदिके अधीन है। उसमें उत्तम व्रतका आचरण करनेवाले ब्राह्मण सामवेदके मन्त्रोंद्वार अग्निकी स्थापनाके लिये छः: अग्निवेदियोंका निर्माण करते हैं

Transliteration

tasya yajñastha samayaḥ svādhīnaḥ kṣatrasampadā | sāmnā ṣaḍ-agnayo yasmiñ śīyante śaṃsitavrataiḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Pour ce sacrifice, le moment fixé et le bon déroulement de l’exécution relevaient de la puissance et des ressources royales—armées et autres moyens. Dans ce rite, des brahmanes aux vœux dignes d’éloge, par les chants du Sāman, établissent les feux sacrés en édifiant six autels de feu, afin que la cérémonie se poursuive selon l’ordre et la discipline requis.

Word by Word

तस्यof that (sacrifice/its)

यज्ञस्थsituated in/at the sacrifice

समयःtime, appointed time

स्वाधीनःunder (one's) control, dependent on

क्षत्रसम्पदाby/through royal power/wealth (kshatriya resources)

साम्नाby Sāman-chants (Sāmaveda)

षट्six

अग्नयःfires

यस्मिन्in which

शीयन्तेare laid down/are placed (are set)

शंसितव्रतैःby those of praised/commended vows (of excellent observances)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

yajña (sacrifice)

kṣatra-sampad (royal resources/army)

Sāmaveda (Sāman chants)

agnis (sacred fires)

Ṣ

ṣaḍ-agnivedī (six fire-altars; implied by context)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the interdependence of social roles in sustaining dharma: royal power and material resources secure the conditions for a yajña, while disciplined Brahmins, guided by Vedic chant and vow, correctly establish the sacred fires. Ethical order arises when authority supports sacred duty and specialists perform it with restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes the organization of a major sacrifice: its timing and logistics are under the king’s control through kṣatriya resources (such as troops and administration), and Brahmins of approved conduct set up the ritual fires using Sāmavedic chants, arranging the required fire-altars for the rite.