Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 21

Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage

तच्छ्रुत्वाजुहुवुर्विप्रा: सहेन्द्रं तक्षकं मखे । तक्षकाशु पतस्वेह सहेन्द्रेण मरुत्वता ॥ २१ ॥

tac chrutvājuhuvur viprāḥ sahendraṁ takṣakaṁ makhe takṣakāśu patasveha sahendreṇa marutvatā

Mendengar itu, para brāhmaṇa melafazkan mantra dalam yajña untuk mempersembahkan Takṣaka bersama Indra: “Wahai Takṣaka, jatuhlah segera ke dalam api ini, bersama Indra dan seluruh kaum Marut!”

तत्that (statement/thing)
तत्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)
अजुहुवुःthey offered (oblations) / invoked
अजुहुवुः:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootहु (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
विप्राःthe brāhmaṇas
विप्राः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन
सहेन्द्रम्along with Indra
सहेन्द्रम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootस + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समास: इन्द्रेण सह (सह-तत्पुरुष)
तक्षकम्Takṣaka
तक्षकम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नाम
मखेin the sacrifice
मखे:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootमख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
तक्षकO Takṣaka
तक्षक:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootतक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन
आशुquickly
आशु:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootआशु (अव्यय)
Formक्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)
पतस्वfall!
पतस्व:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootपत् (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
इहhere
इह:
Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइह (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)
सहेन्द्रेणtogether with Indra
सहेन्द्रेण:
Sahakāraka (सहकारक)/Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootस + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समास: इन्द्रेण सह (सह-तत्पुरुष)
मरुत्वताwith the Marut-bearing one (Indra)
मरुत्वता:
Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
TypeNoun
Rootमरुत्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; इन्द्रस्य विशेषणरूपेण (epithet of Indra)
T
Takṣaka
I
Indra
B
Brāhmaṇas (priests at the sacrifice)

FAQs

Because the ritual was being used to call and punish Takṣaka, the serpent responsible for King Parīkṣit’s death, by drawing him into the fire through Vedic mantras.

Indra is implicated as protecting or associating with Takṣaka; the priests therefore direct the mantra to bring down Takṣaka together with Indra, the thunderbolt-wielder (Marutvān).

It highlights how reactions driven by vengeance can escalate conflict; the Bhagavatam repeatedly guides seekers to choose dharma, restraint, and devotion over retaliatory obsession.