Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 48

Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation

Devanagari script

¨ हिंस्रं द्रव्यमयं काम्यमग्निहोत्राद्यशान्तिदम् । दर्शश्च पूर्णमासश्च चातुर्मास्यं पशु: सुत: ॥ ४८ ॥ एतदिष्टं प्रवृत्ताख्यं हुतं प्रहुतमेव च । पूर्तं सुरालयारामकूपाजीव्यादिलक्षणम् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

hiṁsraṁ dravyamayaṁ kāmyam agni-hotrādy-aśāntidam darśaś ca pūrṇamāsaś ca cāturmāsyaṁ paśuḥ sutaḥ

Translation

അഗ്നിഹോത്രം, ദർശം, പൂർണമാസം, ചാതുർമാസ്യം, പശുയജ്ഞം, സോമയജ്ഞം മുതലായവ കാമ്യവും ദ്രവ്യപ്രധാനവും ഹിംസാസ്വഭാവമുള്ളതുമായ യാഗങ്ങളാണ്; പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് ധാന്യാദി വിലപ്പെട്ടവ കത്തിക്കപ്പെടുകയും അശാന്തി ജനിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. ഇത്തരത്തിലുള്ള യാഗങ്ങൾ, വൈശ്വദേവപൂജ, ബലിഹരണം, ദേവാലയനിർമ്മാണം, വിശ്രമഗൃഹ-ഉദ്യാനങ്ങൾ, കിണർതോണ്ടൽ, അന്നവിതരണകേന്ദ്രങ്ങൾ, പൊതുഹിതപ്രവർത്തനങ്ങൾ—ഇവയെല്ലാം പ്രവൃത്തി-മാർഗത്തിന്റെ ലക്ഷണങ്ങൾ; ഭൗതിക ആഗ്രഹാസക്തിയാൽ ചിഹ്നിതം.

Synonyms

• hiṁsram: violent
• hiṁsram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hiṁsra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म-विशेषण

• dravyamayam: made of materials, material-based
• dravyamayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dravya + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘द्रव्य-निर्मित/द्रव्य-प्रधान’

• kāmyam: performed for desires
• kāmyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘desire-motivated’

• agni-hotra-ādi-aśānti-dam: (like) agnihotra etc., causing unrest
• agni-hotra-ādi-aśānti-dam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agni-hotra + ādi + aśānti + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अग्निहोत्र-आदि’ (etc. like agnihotra) + ‘अशान्ति-द’ (giving unrest)

• darśaḥ: Darśa sacrifice (new-moon rite)
• darśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; यज्ञविशेष

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• pūrṇamāsaḥ: Pūrṇamāsa sacrifice (full-moon rite)
• pūrṇamāsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrṇa + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; यज्ञविशेष

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• cāturmāsyam: Cāturmāsya rite
• cāturmāsyam: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cātur + māsya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; यज्ञविशेष (four-monthly rite)

• paśuḥ: animal sacrifice / sacrificial animal
• paśuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; यज्ञपशु/पशुयाग

• sutaḥ: Soma-pressing/pressed Soma
• sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘pressed Soma’/‘offspring’—अत्र यज्ञसामग्री-विशेष (सुतसोम)

Characters & Entities

• Prahlada Maharaja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about desire-driven Vedic sacrifices like agnihotra?

In this verse, Prahlada explains that rituals performed for material desires and requiring violence or heavy paraphernalia do not give true peace; they keep one within restless material motivation rather than pure devotion.

Why does Prahlada Maharaja criticize rituals like darśa and pūrṇamāsa in Canto 7?

He is teaching that dharma aimed at personal gain (kāmya-karma) cannot satisfy the soul; it may yield temporary results but does not awaken bhakti or lasting inner tranquility.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life if I am religious but seeking peace?

Shift the focus from “results-based” religiosity to devotion and inner purification—practice prayer, chanting, service, and ethical living for pleasing the Lord rather than for obtaining rewards.