Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 23

Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense

Devanagari script

यस्य क्रतुषु गीर्वाणै: सदस्या ऋत्विजो जना: । तुल्यरूपाश्चानिमिषा व्यद‍ृश्यन्त सुवासस: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

yasya kratuṣu gīrvāṇaiḥ sadasyā ṛtvijo janāḥ tulya-rūpāś cānimiṣā vyadṛśyanta suvāsasaḥ

Translation

在安巴利沙王所举行的祭仪中，集会成员与诸祭官（ṛtvij）皆衣饰华美，形貌宛如天神。他们热切而谨慎地监督，使祭祀依正法仪圆满完成。

Synonyms

• yasya: whose
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्-सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun ‘whose’

• kratuṣu: in the sacrifices
• kratuṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location-where)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kratu (क्रतु-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘in (his) sacrifices’

• gīrvāṇaiḥ: by the gods
• gīrvāṇaiḥ: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīrvāṇa (गीर्वाण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘by the gods’

• sadasyāḥ: assembly-members
• sadasyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadasya (सदस्य-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘members (of the assembly)’

• ṛtvijaḥ: priests
• ṛtvijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtvij (ऋत्विज्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘priests’

• janāḥ: people
• janāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (जन-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); appositional group with sadasyāḥ, ṛtvijaḥ

• tulya-rūpāḥ: of similar appearance
• tulya-rūpāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tulya (तुल्य-प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (रूप-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘having similar forms’

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

• animiṣāḥ: the unblinking (gods)
• animiṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: animiṣa (अनिमिष-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘the unblinking ones’ = gods

• vyadṛśyanta: were seen/appeared
• vyadṛśyanta: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश्-धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); ātmanepada; passive/intransitive sense ‘were seen/appeared’ with vy-

• su-vāsasaḥ: well-dressed
• su-vāsasaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (सु-उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vāsas (वासस्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘well-clothed, wearing fine garments’

Characters & Entities

• Demigods (Gīrvāṇas)
• Ṛtvijas (priests)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about demigods attending a yajna?

This verse describes that in a great sacrifice, demigods and the ritual participants may be present in such splendor and similarity of appearance that they seem indistinguishable—highlighting the sacred, divine atmosphere surrounding proper yajña.

Who is speaking Bhagavatam 9.4.23 and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating to King Parīkṣit, describing the extraordinary scene within the sacrificial assembly.

What is the practical application of this verse in modern life?

It emphasizes honoring sacred duties and gatherings with purity, respect, and proper conduct—creating an uplifting atmosphere where devotion and dharma become tangible influences on everyone present.