Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 1

Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention

False Renunciation Exposed

Devanagari script

मैत्रेय उवाच अथादीक्षत राजा तु हयमेधशतेन स: । ब्रह्मावर्ते मनो: क्षेत्रे यत्र प्राची सरस्वती ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

maitreya uvāca athādīkṣata rājā tu hayamedha-śatena saḥ brahmāvarte manoḥ kṣetre yatra prācī sarasvatī

Translation

Sinabi ni Maitreya—O Vidura! Pagkaraan, si Haring Vainya Pṛthu ay tumanggap ng dīkṣā upang isagawa ang sandaang Aśvamedha-yajña sa Brahmāvarta, lupain ni Manu, sa pook na ang Ilog Sarasvatī ay dumadaloy patungong silangan.

Synonyms

• मैत्रेयः: Maitreya
• मैत्रेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/particle)

• अदीक्षत: undertook initiation, was consecrated
• अदीक्षत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (दीक्षते)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• तु: indeed, however
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: contrast/emphasis)

• हयमेध-शतेन: by (performing) a hundred horse-sacrifices
• हयमेध-शतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हयमेध (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हयमेधानां शतेन = by a hundred Aśvamedhas)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; personal/demonstrative pronoun

• ब्रह्मावर्ते: in Brahmāvarta
• ब्रह्मावर्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मावर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; place-name

• मनोः: of Manu
• मनोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• क्षेत्रे: in the region/field
• क्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (relative adverb of place)

• प्राची: eastern-flowing / to the east
• प्राची: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying सरस्वती)

• सरस्वती: the Sarasvatī (river)
• सरस्वती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; river-name

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• King Pṛthu
• Manu
• Sarasvatī (River)

FAQs

Why did King Pṛthu perform (or plan) a hundred Aśvamedha sacrifices in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse indicates Pṛthu’s consecration for many Aśvamedhas as an expression of ideal royal duty (rājadharma), establishing order and prosperity through Vedic rites in a sanctified land.

What is Brahmāvarta (Manu’s kṣetra) mentioned in Bhagavata Purana 4.19.1?

Brahmāvarta is described here as the sacred region associated with Manu, a highly purified place suitable for major Vedic sacrifices, identified by the presence of the eastward-flowing Sarasvatī.

How can devotees apply the lesson of this shloka in modern life?

The shloka highlights intentional spiritual commitment: choosing a sacred, disciplined setting and dedicating oneself to dharmic action—today mirrored by sincere vows, regular sādhana, and service performed with purity of purpose.