Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.19.27
तमृत्विज: शक्रवधाभिसन्धितंविचक्ष्य दुष्प्रेक्ष्यमसह्यरंहसम्
निवारयामासुरहो महामतेन युज्यतेऽत्रान्यवध: प्रचोदितात् ॥ २७ ॥
tam ṛtvijaḥ śakra-vadhābhisandhitaṁ
[tam ritvijah shakra-vadhaabhisandhitam]
vicakṣya duṣprekṣyam asahya-raṁhasam
[vichakshya dushprekshyam asahya-ramhasam]
nivārayām āsur aho mahā-mate
[nivaarayaam aasur aho mahaa-mate]
na yujyate ’trānya-vadhaḥ pracoditāt
[na yujyate ’traanya-vadhah prachoditaat]
Word-for-word
tam
—
King Pṛthu
ṛtvijaḥ
—
the priests
śakra-vadha
—
killing the King of heaven
abhisandhitam
—
thus preparing himself
vicakṣya
—
having observed
duṣprekṣyam
—
terrible to look at
asahya
—
unbearable
raṁhasam
—
whose velocity
nivārayām āsuḥ
—
they forbade
aho
—
oh
mahā-mate
—
O great soul
na
—
not
yujyate
—
is worthy for you
atra
—
in this sacrificial arena
anya
—
others
vadhaḥ
—
killing
pracoditāt
—
from being so directed in the scriptures.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tam ṛtvijaḥ śakra-vadhābhisandhitaṁ
tam
King Pṛthu
ṛtvijaḥ
the priests
śakra-vadha
killing the King of heaven
abhisandhitam
thus preparing himself
vicakṣya duṣprekṣyam asahya-raṁhasam
vicakṣya
having observed
duṣprekṣyam
terrible to look at
asahya
unbearable
raṁhasam
whose velocity
nivārayām āsur aho mahā-mate
nivārayām āsuḥ
they forbade
aho
oh
mahā-mate
O great soul
na yujyate ’trānya-vadhaḥ pracoditāt
na
not
yujyate
is worthy for you
atra
in this sacrificial arena
anya
others
vadhaḥ
killing
pracoditāt
from being so directed in the scriptures.
When the priests and all the others saw Mahārāja Pṛthu very angry and prepared to kill Indra, they requested him: O great soul, do not kill him, for only sacrificial animals can be killed in a sacrifice. Such are the directions given by śāstra.
Purport
Animal killing is intended for different purposes: it tests the proper pronunciation of Vedic mantras, and an animal being put into the sacrificial fire should come out with a new life. No one should ever be killed in a sacrifice meant for the satisfaction of Lord Viṣṇu. How then could Indra be killed when he is actually worshiped in the yajña and accepted as part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Therefore the priests requested King Pṛthu not to kill him.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Observing that Pṛthu, who was terrible to behold, having intolerable speed against his enemies, was preparing to kill Indra, the priests prevented him. O great soul! From what is declared in scriptures, it is not proper that other killing should take place in this sacrifice.”
Ahisandhitam means “having the intention.” Vicakṣya means “seeing.” Because of the prescriptions of scripture (pracoditāt) no killing except the sacrifice of the animals is allowed.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The priests urged restraint: only sacrificial animals can be killed in a sacrifice, per śāstra. Even when you have the cause, the venue matters; correctness of arena is its own discipline.
Reflection Questions
- Which legitimate cause am I tempted to pursue in the wrong venue?
- Where does honoring the venue's rules postpone but not deny just action?
My note
Source: vedabase.io