Previous Verse
Next Verse

Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 39

Gṛhastha-Dharma: How a Householder Attains Liberation by Offering All to Vāsudeva

द‍ृष्ट्वा तेषां मिथो नृणामवज्ञानात्मतां नृप । त्रेतादिषु हरेरर्चा क्रियायै कविभि: कृता ॥ ३९ ॥

dṛṣṭvā teṣāṁ mitho nṛṇām avajñānātmatāṁ nṛpa tretādiṣu harer arcā kriyāyai kavibhiḥ kṛtā

ข้าแต่มหาราช เมื่อมหาฤๅษีเห็นการดูหมิ่นกันและกันของมนุษย์ในต้นยุคเตรตา จึงได้วางระเบียบการบูชาเทวรูปพระหริในวิหาร พร้อมพิธีกรรมและเครื่องประกอบครบถ้วน

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootदृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वा)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया
तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम
मिथःmutually
मिथः:
Prakara (प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमिथः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; परस्परार्थक (mutually)
नृणाम्of men
नृणाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootनृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन
अवज्ञान-आत्मताम्the nature of contempt
अवज्ञान-आत्मताम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootअवज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मता (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अवज्ञानस्य आत्मता)
नृपO king
नृप:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootनृप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन
त्रेता-आदिषुin Tretā and other ages
त्रेता-आदिषु:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootत्रेता (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः (त्रेतायाम् आदौ इत्यर्थे: ‘in Tretā etc.’)
हरेःof Hari
हरेः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootहरि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
अर्चाworship (arcā)
अर्चा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअर्चा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
क्रियायैfor the performance (of ritual)
क्रियायै:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootक्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन
कविभिःby sages/poets
कविभिः:
Kartr-karana (कर्ता/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootकवि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन
कृताwas made/established
कृता:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः कर्मणि; (अर्चा इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्)

As it is said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.3.52) :

K
King Parīkṣit
L
Lord Hari (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

This verse explains that sages instituted the regulated worship of Lord Hari (arcana) beginning in Tretā-yuga to engage people in devotional practice when mutual disrespect and social disharmony increased.

Śukadeva is describing how dharmic systems adapt across ages; when people became more prone to contempt and conflict, sages provided a structured means—Hari’s regulated worship—to purify behavior and focus society on devotion.

Adopt steady devotional routines—such as daily worship, temple service, and respectful conduct—so the mind and community are trained toward humility and reverence rather than criticism and social friction.