Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 26

The Killing of Ariṣṭāsura and Kaṁsa’s Plot to Summon Kṛṣṇa

Devanagari script

आरभ्यतां धनुर्यागश्चतुर्दश्यां यथाविधि । विशसन्तु पशून्मेध्यान् भूतराजाय मीढुषे ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

ārabhyatāṁ dhanur-yāgaś caturdaśyāṁ yathā-vidhi viśasantu paśūn medhyān bhūta-rājāya mīḍhuṣe

Translation

按照吠陀的规定，在第十四天（Caturdaśī）开始弓祭。向仁慈的众生之主湿婆（Lord Śiva）献祭适当种类的动物。

Synonyms

• आरभ्यताम्: let (it) be begun
• आरभ्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√रभ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘let it be begun’

• धनुर्यागः: the bow-sacrifice
• धनुर्यागः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् + याग (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘धनुषः यागः’

• चतुर्दश्याम्: on the fourteenth (lunar day)
• चतुर्दश्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्दशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; tithi-name

• यथाविधि: according to the prescribed rule
• यथाविधि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + विधि (अव्यय-समास)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb): ‘according to rule’

• विशसन्तु: let them slaughter
• विशसन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√शस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पशून्: animals
• पशून्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• मेध्यान्: fit for sacrifice
• मेध्यान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण पशून्

• भूतराजाय: for the lord of beings (Śiva)
• भूतराजाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + राज (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘भूतानां राजा’ (Śiva)

• मीढुषे: to the beneficent one (bestower)
• मीढुषे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मीढुष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; epithet meaning ‘the beneficent/bestower’ (of boons)

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Śiva (Bhūtarāja)

FAQs

What is the Dhanur-yajna (bow festival) mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, the Dhanur-yajna is a public bow-festival/sacrificial event in Mathurā, scheduled on the fourteenth lunar day, arranged as part of Kaṁsa’s larger plan connected to Kṛṣṇa’s arrival.

Why does Kaṁsa order sacrifices to Bhūtarāja (Lord Śiva) here?

Kaṁsa is organizing a grand state ritual and directs offerings to Śiva (called Bhūtarāja, “lord of beings”), seeking auspiciousness and power—yet the narrative context shows his intentions are politically and violently motivated rather than devotional.

What is a practical lesson from this shloka for modern life?

External religiosity—festivals, rituals, or “proper procedure”—is not a substitute for pure intention; Bhagavatam repeatedly teaches that dharma without sincerity and devotion can be misused for ego, control, or harm.