Shloka 64

Jarītā–Śārṅgā-saṃvāda: Ākhu-haraṇa and the Approach of Agni (आखुहरणं अग्न्यागमनश्च)

Devanagari script

ऋषच्विग्भि: सहित: सर्वे: सदस्यैश्ष समन्वित:ः । तस्य सत्रे पपौ वह्नलि्विद्धादिश वत्सरान्‌,नृपश्रेष्ठ राजर्षि श्वेतकिका आचार-व्यवहार ऐसा ही था। वे दीर्घकालके पश्चात्‌ अपने यज्ञके सम्पूर्ण सदस्यों तथा ऋत्विजोंसहित देवताओंसे प्रशंसित हो स्वर्गलोकमें गये। उनके यज्ञमें अग्निने लगातार बारह वर्षोतक घृतपान किया था

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca | ṛṣa-cvigbhiḥ sahitaḥ sarvaiḥ sadasyaiś ca samanvitaḥ | tasya satre papau vahnir ājyaṃ dvādaśa vatsarān, nṛpaśreṣṭha | dīrghakālāt paścāt saḥ sarvair ṛtvigbhiḥ saha devaiḥ praśastaḥ svargalokaṃ gataḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Accompanied by all the officiating priests and joined by the full assembly of ritual participants, that king—best among rulers—conducted a great sacrificial session. In that rite the sacred fire continuously drank the clarified butter for twelve years. After a long time, praised by the gods and surrounded by his priests and fellow participants, he departed to the heavenly world. The passage underscores the ideal of steadfast ritual discipline and the belief that sustained, properly ordered sacrificial conduct leads to divine approval and exalted destiny.

Word by Word

• {'Vaiśampāyana uvāca': 'Vaiśampāyana said', 'ṛtvij (ṛtvik)': 'a priest officiating in a Vedic sacrifice', 'ṛṣi': 'seer

• inspired sage', 'sadasya': 'member of the sacrificial assembly

• learned participant/judge in the rite', 'satra': 'a long sacrificial session, often extended over months/years', 'vahni / agni': 'fire

• the sacrificial fire, personified as Agni', 'pibati / papau': 'to drink

• (here) to consume offerings', 'ājya (ghṛta)': 'clarified butter offered into the fire', 'dvādaśa': 'twelve', 'vatsara': 'year', 'nṛpaśreṣṭha': 'best of kings', 'devaiḥ praśastaḥ': 'praised/approved by the gods', 'svargaloka': 'heavenly realm

• world of the gods', 'gataḥ': 'went

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Agni (Vahni)
• the ṛtvijas (officiating priests)
• the sadasyas (assembly members)
• the gods (devas)
• Svargaloka (heaven)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined adherence to Vedic dharma through sustained, properly supported sacrifice (satra). It presents divine approval and attainment of heaven as the fruit of long-term, orderly ritual conduct carried out with the full complement of priests and an informed assembly.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a king’s extended sacrificial session in which Agni continuously consumes ghee for twelve years. After completing the rite, the king—accompanied by priests and participants and praised by the gods—goes to Svarga.