Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 7

Ṛṣabhadeva’s Enthronement, Exemplary Household Life, and the Birth of Bharata and the Nine Yogendras

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मण्योऽन्य: कुतो नाभेर्विप्रा मङ्गलपूजिता: । यस्य बर्हिषि यज्ञेशं दर्शयामासुरोजसा ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

brahmaṇyo ’nyaḥ kuto nābher viprā maṅgala-pūjitāḥ yasya barhiṣi yajñeśaṁ darśayām āsur ojasā

Translation

“ใครเล่าจะเป็นผู้บูชาพราหมณ์ยิ่งกว่ามหาราชานาภิ? พระองค์บูชาพราหมณ์ผู้ทรงคุณให้พอใจอย่างยิ่ง แล้วพราหมณ์เหล่านั้นด้วยเดชพราหมณ์ของตน ได้สำแดงพระนารายณ์ ผู้เป็นยัชเญศวร ให้ประจักษ์ ณ แท่นยัญของพระองค์”

Synonyms

• brahmaṇyaḥ: devoted to brāhmaṇas / pious
• brahmaṇyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahmaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• anyaḥ: another (one)
• anyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate ‘another (person)’

• kutaḥ: whence/how (could there be)
• kutaḥ: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutas (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable interrogative adverb

• nābheḥ: than Nābhi / from Nābhi
• nābheḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nābhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; ‘than Nābhi/from Nābhi’

• viprāḥ: brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• maṅgala-pūjitāḥ: honoured with auspicious worship
• maṅgala-pūjitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjita (कृदन्त, √pūj)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Past passive participle (क्त); Masculine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies ‘viprāḥ’

• yasya: of whom
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• barhiṣi: on the sacrificial grass/altar
• barhiṣi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: barhis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• yajñeśam: the Lord of sacrifice
• yajñeśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• darśayām: they showed
• darśayām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्) with causative stem (णिच्); 3rd Person, Plural; in periphrastic split with ‘āsur’

• āsuḥ: they were/did (aux.)
• āsuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्), Parasmaipada; 3rd Person, Plural; auxiliary completing periphrastic aorist

• ojasā: by power/energy
• ojasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ojas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

Purport

The brāhmaṇas engaged as priests in the sacrificial ceremony were not ordinary brāhmaṇas. They were so powerful that they could bring forth the Supreme Personality of Godhead by their prayers. Thus Mahārāja Nābhi was able to see the Lord face to face. Unless one is a Vaiṣṇava, he cannot call forth the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord does not accept an invitation unless one is a Vaiṣṇava. Therefore it is said in Padma Purāṇa:

Characters & Entities

• Nābhi
• Viprāḥ (brāhmaṇas)
• Yajñeśa (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about honoring brāhmaṇas and its results?

This verse praises King Nābhi as uniquely devoted to brāhmaṇas; because he honored them properly, they revealed the Lord of sacrifice (Viṣṇu) on his yajña-altar—showing that sincere respect for saintly brāhmaṇas invites divine presence.

Who is Yajñeśa in the Bhagavata Purana, and why is He connected with yajña?

Yajñeśa means “the Lord of sacrifice,” referring to Lord Viṣṇu, the ultimate enjoyer and master of all offerings; the verse says He was revealed on the sacrificial arena, affirming that yajña is meant to please Him.

How can the teaching of this shloka be applied in modern life?

Serve and honor genuine teachers of dharma and devotees with sincerity, and make your daily duties an offering to the Lord; the verse emphasizes that reverence, purity, and devotion attract spiritual realization.