Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 32

Satī at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice: Condemnation of Blasphemy and Voluntary Departure by Yoga-Fire

Devanagari script

तेषामापततां वेगं निशाम्य भगवान् भृगु: । यज्ञघ्नघ्नेन यजुषा दक्षिणाग्नौ जुहाव ह ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

teṣām āpatatāṁ vegaṁ niśāmya bhagavān bhṛguḥ yajña-ghna-ghnena yajuṣā dakṣiṇāgnau juhāva ha

Translation

彼らが勢いよく襲いかかるのを見て、尊きブリグは危難を悟った。彼は祭火の南方に供物を投じ、ヤジュル・ヴェーダの真言讃歌をただちに唱えて、祭儀を破る者どもを瞬時に討ち滅ぼし得るようにした。

Synonyms

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• āpatatām: of those who were rushing
• āpatatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā-√pat (पत्) धातु; āpatant (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान-कृदन्त), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; 'of those rushing/attacking'

• vegam: speed; force
• vegam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• niśāmya: having noticed
• niśāmya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ni-√śam (शम्) धातु
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्)

• bhagavān: the venerable one
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhṛguḥ: Bhṛgu
• bhṛguḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to 'bhagavān'

• yajña-ghna-ghnena: by (a formula) that slays the slayer of the sacrifice
• yajña-ghna-ghnena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña-ghna (प्रातिपदिक) + ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'by the slayer of the slayer of the sacrifice' (i.e., a counteracting mantra/act)

• yajuṣā: with a Yajus (Vedic formula)
• yajuṣā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; 'with a Yajus formula'

• dakṣiṇa-agnau: in the southern sacrificial fire
• dakṣiṇa-agnau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; karmadhāraya: 'in the southern fire (dakṣiṇāgni)'

• juhāva: offered; poured oblation
• juhāva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hu (हु) धातु
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

• ha: indeed
• ha: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

Purport

Here is one example of powerful hymns in the Vedas which, when chanted, could perform wonderful acts. In the present Age of Kali it is not possible to find expert mantra chanters; therefore all the sacrifices recommended in the Vedas are forbidden in this age. The only sacrifice recommended in this age is the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra because in this age it is not possible to accumulate the needed funds for performing sacrifices, not to speak of finding expert brāhmaṇas who can chant the mantras perfectly.

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu
• Dakṣa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about protecting a yajña from disruption?

This verse shows Bhṛgu Muni using a Yajur-mantra and oblations into the dakṣiṇāgni to counter those attacking the sacrifice, indicating that yajña is safeguarded through proper Vedic procedure and spiritual potency.

Why did Bhṛgu Muni offer oblations into the southern fire (dakṣiṇāgni)?

Because the ritual context of the sacrifice required specific fires for specific functions; Bhṛgu employed the dakṣiṇāgni with an appropriate Yajur-mantra to neutralize the threat to the yajña.

What is the practical lesson of this shloka for modern spiritual life?

When dharmic practice is threatened—externally or internally—one should respond with disciplined, authorized spiritual methods (prayer, mantra, and steadiness) rather than impulsive reaction.