Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 10

Kṛṣṇa Arrives at Kuṇḍina and Abducts Rukmiṇī

Rukmiṇī-haraṇa Prelude

Devanagari script

पितृन् देवान् समभ्यर्च्य विप्रांश्च विधिवन्नृप । भोजयित्वा यथान्यायं वाचयामास मङ्गलम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

pitṝn devān samabhyarcya viprāṁś ca vidhi-van nṛpa bhojayitvā yathā-nyāyaṁ vācayām āsa maṅgalam

Translation

大王啊，毗湿摩迦王依照仪轨礼敬祖先、诸天与婆罗门，并如法供养他们。随后，他命人诵念传统吉祥真言，以祈新娘安泰。

Synonyms

• pitṝn: the forefathers
• pitṝn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• samabhyarcya: having duly worshipped
• samabhyarcya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + abhi + arc (धातु) → samabhyarcya (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having worshipped’

• viprān: the brāhmaṇas
• viprān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• vidhi-vat: according to proper rites
• vidhi-vat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), ‘according to rule’

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Sambodhana (8th/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana

• bhojayitvā: having fed
• bhojayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु, परस्मैपद) → bhojayitvā (णिच् causative + क्त्वा)
• Form: Causative gerund (णिच् + क्त्वा), ‘having fed’

• yathā-nyāyam: as is proper
• yathā-nyāyam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + nyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva adverb; ‘as is proper’

• vācayām: caused (it) to be recited
• vācayām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) → vācayām (णिच् causative, लिट्/लुङ्?; with āsa periphrastic)
• Form: Causative (णिच्); periphrastic perfect with āsa: vācayām āsa = ‘caused to be recited’; Uttama? actually 3rd person singular implied by context; form used as periphrastic base

• āsa: did/was (auxiliary)
• āsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, imperfect), Prathama (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana

• maṅgalam: auspicious benedictions
• maṅgalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about performing auspicious rites before a major ceremony?

This verse describes the standard dharmic preparation—worship of ancestors and demigods, honoring brāhmaṇas with proper feeding, and arranging for auspicious Vedic recitations before proceeding.

Why are brāhmaṇas fed and asked to recite maṅgala mantras in Bhagavatam narratives?

Because brāhmaṇas represent Vedic authority; honoring them and hearing auspicious recitations sanctifies the occasion and aligns the event with dharma and divine blessing.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

Begin important undertakings with prayer, gratitude to elders/forebears, respectful support of spiritual teachers, and hearing sacred sound (mantra) to keep one’s actions aligned with devotion and integrity.