Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 48
The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed (Brāhmaṇa-patnī-prasāda) — Ritualism Humbled by Bhakti
देश: काल: पृथग्द्रव्यं मन्त्रतन्त्रर्त्विजोऽग्नय: । देवता यजमानश्च क्रतुर्धर्मश्च यन्मय: ॥ ४८ ॥ स एव भगवान् साक्षाद् विष्णुर्योगेश्वरेश्वर: । जातो यदुष्वित्याशृण्म ह्यपि मूढा न विद्महे ॥ ४९ ॥
deśaḥ kālaḥ pṛthag dravyaṁ mantra-tantrartvijo ’gnayaḥ devatā yajamānaś ca kratur dharmaś ca yan-mayaḥ
Ang lahat ng sangkap ng paghahandog (yajña)—ang mapalad na lugar at panahon, iba’t ibang handog, mga himnong Veda, itinakdang ritwal, mga pari at apoy ng sakripisyo, mga diyos, ang yajamāna, ang alay at ang bungang-dharma—ay pawang pagpapakita ng Kanyang karangyaan. Gayunman, kahit narinig naming si Viṣṇu, ang Panginoon ng mga yogi, ay isinilang sa angkan ng Yadu, kami’y naging hangal at hindi nakilala na si Śrī Kṛṣṇa ay Siya rin.
FAQs
This verse teaches that every component of yajña—time, place, mantras, priests, fires, deities, the sponsor, and the resulting dharma—exists within and is pervaded by the Supreme Lord; thus sacrifice is meaningful only in relation to Him.
They were requesting food for Krishna and Balarama and reminded the ritualistic brāhmaṇas that the true purpose of sacrifice is to please the Supreme Lord, not merely to perform external rites.
It encourages offering one’s work, worship, and daily duties to God in devotion—seeing rituals, responsibilities, and results as meant for the Lord rather than for ego or social prestige.