Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 21

King Vena’s Tyranny, the Sages’ Counsel, and the Birth of Niṣāda

Devanagari script

तं सर्वलोकामरयज्ञसङ्ग्रहं त्रयीमयं द्रव्यमयं तपोमयम् । यज्ञैर्विचित्रैर्यजतो भवाय ते राजन् स्वदेशाननुरोद्धुमर्हसि ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ sarva-lokāmara-yajña-saṅgrahaṁ trayīmayaṁ dravyamayaṁ tapomayam yajñair vicitrair yajato bhavāya te rājan sva-deśān anuroddhum arhasi

Translation

大王啊，至上人格神与诸主宰天神同在，乃一切世界诸祭祀果报的享受者；祂是三部吠陀之总和，是万有之主，也是苦行的究竟归宿。故为汝之提升，当令国人行种种祭祀，并常导之归于祭献。

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• सर्वलोकामरयज्ञसङ्ग्रहम्: the gatherer/recipient of all worldly and divine sacrifices
• सर्वलोकामरयज्ञसङ्ग्रहम्: कर्म (Karma; qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-लोक-अमर-यज्ञ-सङ्ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक; components: सर्व + लोक + अमर + यज्ञ + सङ्ग्रह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); तम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• त्रयीमयम्: consisting of the three Vedas
• त्रयीमयम्: कर्म (Karma; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयी-मय (प्रातिपदिक; त्रयी + मय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular); तम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• द्रव्यमयम्: consisting of sacrificial materials
• द्रव्यमयम्: कर्म (Karma; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रव्य-मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• तपोमयम्: consisting of austerity
• तपोमयम्: कर्म (Karma; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्-मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• यज्ञैः: by sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विचित्रैः: various
• विचित्रैः: करण (Karaṇa; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural); यज्ञैः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• यजतः: of (you) sacrificing
• यजतः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); पुंलिङ्ग; ‘of you who are sacrificing’

• भवाय: for welfare/prosperity
• भवाय: सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन (Dative of purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/चतुर्थी), एकवचन (Singular); प्रयोजन (purpose)

• ते: of you/your
• ते: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वदेशान्: (your) own lands/regions
• स्वदेशान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अनुरोद्धुम्: to restrain/obstruct
• अनुरोद्धुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose; infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + रुध् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive/तुमुन्), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable infinitive)

• अर्हसि: you ought/are fit
• अर्हसि: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present/लट्), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Vena
• Supreme Lord (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about yajna being connected to Vishnu?

This verse states that the Supreme Lord is the very reservoir and essence of all sacrifices—performed for the worlds and the demigods—and that He is identical with the three Vedas, being worshiped through sacrificial ingredients and austerity.

Why did the sages say this to King Vena in Bhagavatam Canto 4?

King Vena was obstructing religious sacrifice and proper worship; the sages warned him to stop restraining his own subjects who were performing yajñas for his welfare and the kingdom’s prosperity.

Practical application of this teaching on yajna and austerity in modern life?

Offer your work and resources in a spirit of service to God and society (yajña), and support disciplined living (tapas)—rather than blocking or ridiculing sincere spiritual practice in your community.