Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 29

Dhruva-vaṁśa Continuation: Utkala’s Renunciation, Aṅga’s Sacrifice, and the Birth of Vena

Prelude to Pṛthu

Devanagari script

मैत्रेय उवाच अङ्गो द्विजवच: श्रुत्वा यजमान: सुदुर्मना: । तत्प्रष्टुं व्यसृजद्वाचं सदस्यांस्तदनुज्ञया ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

maitreya uvāca aṅgo dvija-vacaḥ śrutvā yajamānaḥ sudurmanāḥ tat praṣṭuṁ vyasṛjad vācaṁ sadasyāṁs tad-anujñayā

Translation

Maitreya nói: Vua Aṅga, người chủ tế, nghe lời các vị Bà-la-môn thì vô cùng sầu muộn. Khi được họ cho phép, ngài phá tan sự im lặng và hỏi tất cả các tư tế đang hiện diện trong đàn tế.

Synonyms

• maitreyaḥ: Maitreya
• maitreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maitreya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √वच् (to speak)

• aṅgaḥ: King Aṅga
• aṅgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• dvija-vacaḥ: the brāhmaṇa’s words
• dvija-vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्विजस्य वचः = word of the brāhmaṇa)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyā (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); √श्रु (to hear)

• yajamānaḥ: the sacrificer
• yajamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition to aṅgaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajamāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; यज्ञकर्ता (sacrificer)

• sudurmanāḥ: very downcast
• sudurmanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + durmanas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक विशेषण; कर्मधारय-समास (सु + दुर्मनाः = very dejected)

• tat: that (matter)
• tat: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; (तत् = that matter)

• praṣṭum: to ask
• praṣṭum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); √प्रच्छ् (to ask)

• vyasṛjat: he uttered/sent forth
• vyasṛjat: Kriyā (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; वि-उपसर्ग; √सृज् (to send/utter)

• vācam: speech/words
• vācam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• sadasyān: to the assembly members
• sadasyān: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/to whom addressed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadasya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), बहुवचन

• tad-anujñayā: with his permission
• tad-anujñayā: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + anujñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य अनुज्ञया = with his permission)

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• King Aṅga
• Brāhmaṇas (Dwijas)
• Sadasyas (assembly priests)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about listening to brāhmaṇas during a yajña?

This verse shows that the yajamāna (sacrificer) should respectfully hear the brāhmaṇas’ counsel and act only with their approval, recognizing their dharmic authority in Vedic rites.

Why did King Aṅga become distressed after hearing the brāhmaṇas’ words?

Because their statements indicated a serious concern within the sacrificial context, and as a conscientious ruler and yajamāna, Aṅga felt troubled and sought clarification from the priestly assembly.

How can this Bhagavatam verse be applied in modern life?

When facing moral or spiritual confusion, seek guidance from qualified, principled teachers and ask questions with humility and proper respect, rather than acting impulsively.