Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

स सम्राड् रथमारुढ: सदश्वं रुक्‍ममालिनम् । व्यरोचत स्वपत्नीभि: क्रियाभि: क्रतुराडिव ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

sa samrāḍ ratham āruḍhaḥ sad-aśvaṁ rukma-mālinam vyarocata sva-patnībhiḥ kriyābhiḥ kratu-rāḍ iva

Translation

皇帝登上由良马牵引、佩金项圈的战车，与诸王后相伴而显得光辉灿然，宛如被种种仪轨环绕的辉煌“王祭”（Rājasūya）。

Synonyms

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• samrāṭ: the emperor
• samrāṭ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samrāj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ratham: chariot
• ratham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āruḍhaḥ: having mounted
• āruḍhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ruh (धातु; रुह् आरोहणे)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• sat-aśvam: drawn by good horses
• sat-aśvam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat-aśva (प्रातिपदिक; sat + aśva)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular (agreeing with ratham); karmadhāraya: 'having good horses'

• rukma-mālinam: adorned with golden garlands/ornaments
• rukma-mālinam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rukma-mālin (प्रातिपदिक; rukma + mālin)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular (agreeing with ratham); tatpuruṣa: 'garlanded/adorned with gold'

• vyarocata: shone forth, appeared splendid
• vyarocata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√ruc (धातु; रुच् दीप्तौ)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; ātmanepada

• sva-patnībhiḥ: with his own wives
• sva-patnībhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva-patnī (प्रातिपदिक; sva + patnī)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'with his own wives'

• kriyābhiḥ: by rites/ceremonial acts
• kriyābhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• kratu-rāṭ: the lord of sacrifices
• kratu-rāṭ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kratu-rāj (प्रातिपदिक; kratu + rāj)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'king of sacrifices' (i.e., a great sacrifice)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; simile particle (उपमा)

Purport

King Yudhiṣṭhira with his queens appeared like the personified Rājasūya sacrifice surrounded by its beautiful rituals.

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the glory of the Rajasuya sacrifice?

This verse depicts the post-Rājasūya splendor: Yudhiṣṭhira, the emperor, radiates majesty with his queens, compared to a sacrifice shining with its sacred rites—showing how dharma and royal order become luminous when aligned with yajña.

Why is King Yudhisthira compared to the ‘lord of sacrifices’ in this verse?

Because his imperial dignity after the Rājasūya is portrayed as inseparable from sacred ritual propriety—just as a great sacrifice is defined by its flawless ceremonies, the righteous king’s glory is defined by dharmic conduct.

Practical application of yajna and dharma from this shloka in modern life?

Let one’s outer success be supported by inner discipline: like a sacrifice is beautified by proper acts, life becomes steady and radiant when daily duties are done conscientiously and in a spirit of offering.