Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 22

Duryodhana’s Envy at Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya and the Avabhṛtha Festival

Devanagari script

अथ राजाहते क्षौमे परिधाय स्वलङ्कृत: । ऋत्विक्सदस्यविप्रादीनानर्चाभरणाम्बरै: ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

atha rājāhate kṣaume paridhāya sv-alaṅkṛtaḥ ṛtvik-sadasya-viprādīn ānarcābharaṇāmbaraiḥ

Translation

Kế đó, nhà vua khoác y phục lụa mới và tự trang nghiêm bằng những bảo sức tinh mỹ. Rồi ngài tôn kính các vị tế sư, quan viên hội chúng, các brāhmaṇa uyên bác và những vị khách khác bằng cách dâng tặng trang sức cùng y phục.

Synonyms

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• rājāhate: in royal (cloth)
• rājāhate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + आहत (कृदन्त, हन् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन; समासः—राज-आहत (तत्पुरुष: ‘king-made/royal’)

• kṣaume: in linen cloth
• kṣaume: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• paridhāya: having donned
• paridhāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having put on/worn’

• sva-alaṅkṛtaḥ: well-adorned
• sva-alaṅkṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त, अलङ्कृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—स्व + अलङ्कृत (कर्मधारय: ‘self-adorned/well-adorned’)

• ṛtvik-sadasya-viprādīn: the priests, assembly-members, brāhmaṇas and others
• ṛtvik-sadasya-viprādīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक) + सदस्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (priests, officials, brāhmaṇas etc.) + ‘आदि’ (etc.)

• ānarcā: he worshipped/honoured
• ānarcā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आन्-अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/लुङ्-सम्भाव्य पाठभेदेषु; अत्र—लुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (he worshipped)

• ābharaṇa-ambaraiḥ: with ornaments and garments
• ābharaṇa-ambaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (ornaments and garments)

Purport

Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “The King not only dressed himself and decorated himself, but he also gave clothing and ornaments to all the priests and to the others who had participated in the yajñas. In this way he worshiped them all.”

Characters & Entities

• King (rājā)
• Ṛtviks (officiating priests)
• Sadasyas (assembly members)
• Brāhmaṇas (vipras)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about honoring brāhmaṇas and priests?

This verse shows the king honoring ṛtviks, learned assembly members, and brāhmaṇas through worshipful respect and charitable gifts like ornaments and fine garments—an expression of dharma and reverence for sacred learning.

Why does the Bhagavatam mention new linen and ornaments worn by the king?

It highlights royal propriety and ritual purity: the king dresses in clean, unworn cloth and proper adornment before formally honoring the priests and brāhmaṇas, emphasizing respectful conduct in sacred or ceremonial settings.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

One can practice respectful support of genuine spiritual teachers and devotional communities—through service, appropriate charity, and honoring those dedicated to worship and learning—while maintaining cleanliness and sincerity in one’s offerings.