Shloka 49

Kurukṣetra Pilgrimage: Sages Praise Kṛṣṇa; Vasudeva Inquires on Karma; Viṣṇu-yajña Performed

Devanagari script

तस्यर्त्विजो महाराज रत्नकौशेयवासस: । ससदस्या विरेजुस्ते यथा वृत्रहणोऽध्वरे ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

tasyartvijo mahā-rāja ratna-kauśeya-vāsasaḥ sa-sadasyā virejus te yathā vṛtra-haṇo ’dhvare

Translation

മഹാരാജ പരീക്ഷിത്! വസുദേവന്റെ ഋത്വിജരും സഭാസദസ്യരും രത്നാഭരണങ്ങളും പട്ട് വസ്ത്രങ്ങളും ധരിച്ചു അത്രയും ദീപ്തിയായി ശോഭിച്ചു; അവർ വൃത്രഹന്തനായ ഇന്ദ്രന്റെ യാഗമണ്ഡപത്തിൽ നിൽക്കുന്നവരെപ്പോലെ തോന്നി.

Synonyms

तस्यof him

ऋत्विजःpriests

महा-राजO great king

रत्न-कौशेय-वाससःwearing jeweled silk garments

स-सदस्याःtogether with assistants

विरेजुःshone, looked splendid

तेthey

यथाas, like

वृत्र-हणः(like) the slayers of Vṛtra

अध्वरेin the sacrifice

Characters & Entities

Mahārāja Parīkṣit

Indra (Vṛtrahaṇ)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the splendor of Vedic yajnas?

This verse highlights how the priests and sacrificial assembly appeared radiant and opulent—adorned in jeweled silk—showing the honor and purity traditionally associated with properly conducted Vedic sacrifices.

Why is Indra called Vṛtrahaṇ (slayer of Vṛtra) in this verse?

Śukadeva uses Indra’s well-known epithet Vṛtrahaṇ to give a vivid comparison: the priests in this sacrifice looked as splendid as those who officiate in Indra’s famed sacrificial ceremonies.

Practical application: What can a devotee learn from this verse about worship today?

Even when one’s worship is simple, the lesson is to maintain dignity, cleanliness, and reverence—offering one’s best within one’s means and honoring sacred service and those engaged in it.