Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 14

Mohinī-mūrti Distributes Amṛta; Rāhu is Severed; Results Differ by Shelter

Devanagari script

अथोपोष्य कृतस्‍नाना हुत्वा च हविषानलम् । दत्त्वा गोविप्रभूतेभ्य: कृतस्वस्त्ययना द्विजै: ॥ १४ ॥ यथोपजोषं वासांसि परिधायाहतानि ते । कुशेषु प्राविशन्सर्वे प्रागग्रेष्वभिभूषिता: ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

athopoṣya kṛta-snānā hutvā ca haviṣānalam dattvā go-vipra-bhūtebhyaḥ kṛta-svastyayanā dvijaiḥ

Translation

Rồi chư thiên và asura giữ trai giới, tắm gội thanh tịnh, dâng bơ tinh khiết và lễ vật vào lửa tế. Họ bố thí cho bò, cho các brāhmaṇa và những người thuộc các giai tầng khác theo đúng phần xứng đáng. Dưới sự chỉ dẫn của các dvija, các nghi lễ cát tường được cử hành. Sau đó họ mặc y phục mới theo ý, trang sức bằng châu báu, và ngồi quay mặt về hướng đông trên chỗ ngồi bằng cỏ kuśa.

Synonyms

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/conjunction (सम्बन्धबोधक/अनन्तरार्थक), indeclinable

• उपोष्य: having fasted
• उपोष्य: Kriya-hetu (क्रियाहेतु/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√वस् (धातु) → उपोष्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having fasted’; from √वस्/उपवास (to fast) with उप-

• कृतस्नानाः: having bathed
• कृतस्नानाः: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; compound ‘kṛtaṁ snānaṁ yaiḥ’ = those who have performed bathing

• हुत्वा: having offered
• हुत्वा: Kriya-hetu (क्रियाहेतु/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु) → हुत्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having offered (into fire)’; from √हु ‘to sacrifice/offer’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय), indeclinable

• हविषा: with oblation (ghee etc.)
• हविषा: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• अनलम्: the fire
• अनलम्: Karma (कर्म/object of offering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya-hetu (क्रियाहेतु/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) → दत्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having given’

• गोविप्रभूतेभ्यः: to cows, brāhmaṇas, and living beings
• गोविप्रभूतेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural; dvandva ‘go-viprāḥ’ (cows and brāhmaṇas) with भूत ‘beings’; meaning ‘to cows, brāhmaṇas, and other beings’

• कृतस्वस्त्ययनाः: having had auspicious rites performed
• कृतस्वस्त्ययनाः: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त) + स्वस्त्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; ‘kṛtaṁ svastyayanaṁ yaiḥ’ = those for whom auspicious rites/benedictions were performed

• द्विजैः: by the brāhmaṇas
• द्विजैः: Karana (करण/agent-instrument: by whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

Purport

The Vedas enjoin that for every ritualistic ceremony one must first become clean by bathing either in the water of the Ganges or Yamunā or in the sea. Then one may perform the ritualistic ceremony and offer clarified butter into the fire. In this verse the words paridhāya āhatāni are especially significant. A sannyāsī or a person about to perform a ritualistic ceremony should not dress himself in clothing sewn with a needle.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about fasting, bathing, and yajña as spiritual preparation?

This verse describes fasting (upoṣa), purification by bathing, offering oblations into the sacred fire, and receiving brāhmaṇa blessings as acts that sanctify one before an important undertaking.

Why does the Bhagavatam emphasize giving charity to cows and brāhmaṇas?

Here charity to cows and brāhmaṇas is shown as a dhārmic act that supports sacred culture and invites auspiciousness, aligning one’s actions with devotion and purity.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Before major decisions, adopt a simple vow of restraint, practice cleanliness, offer sincere worship, and give meaningful charity—especially to spiritual and charitable causes—seeking blessings from saintly persons.