FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.2.34

तेऽपि विश्वसृज: सत्रं सहस्रपरिवत्सरान् । संविधाय महेष्वास यत्रेज्य ऋषभो हरि: ॥ ३४ ॥
te ’pi viśva-sṛjaḥ satraṁ
[te ’pi vishva-srijah satram]
sahasra-parivatsarān
[sahasra-parivatsaraan]
saṁvidhāya maheṣvāsa
[samvidhaaya maheshvaasa]
yatrejya ṛṣabho hariḥ
[yatrejya rishabho harih]
Word-for-word
te — those api — even viśva-sṛjaḥ — progenitors of the universal population satram — the sacrifice sahasra — one thousand parivatsarān — years saṁvidhāya — performing maheṣvāsa — O Vidura yatra — in which ijyaḥ — to be worshiped ṛṣabhaḥ — the presiding Deity of all demigods hariḥ — Hari.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
te ’pi viśva-sṛjaḥ satraṁ
te
those
sahasra-parivatsarān
api
even
saṁvidhāya maheṣvāsa
viśva-sṛjaḥ
progenitors of the universal population
satram
the sacrifice
yatrejya ṛṣabho hariḥ
sahasra
one thousand
parivatsarān
years
saṁvidhāya
performing
maheṣvāsa
O Vidura
yatra
in which
ijyaḥ
to be worshiped
ṛṣabhaḥ
the presiding Deity of all demigods
hariḥ
Hari.
The sage Maitreya continued: O Vidura, all the progenitors of the universal population thus executed a sacrifice for thousands of years, for sacrifice is the best way to worship the Supreme Lord, Hari, the Personality of Godhead.
Purport

It is clearly stated here that the stalwart personalities who generate the entire population of the world are interested in satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead by offering sacrifices. The Lord also says in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29) , bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasām. One may engage in performing sacrifices and severe austerities for perfection, but they are all meant to satisfy the Supreme Lord. lf such activities are performed for personal satisfaction, one is involved in pāṣaṇḍa, or atheism; but when they are performed for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord, one is following the Vedic principle. All the assembled sages performed sacrifices for one thousand years.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Vidura! The creators of the universe, after performing sacrifice for a thousand years in which the Supreme Lord was the best of those worthy of worship, and taking their avabhṛtha bath at the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā, with purified minds, departed for their respective abodes. They went after performing (saṁvidhāya) the sacrifice without Śiva, Dakṣa or their followers. There were no obstacles generated from their quarrel, for it is said that at that sacrifice the Supreme Lord as the best among beings worthy of worship. Thus without worship of Śiva and others, still there was no imperfection in the sacrifice. Thus ends the commentary on the Second Chapter of the Fourth Canto of the Bhāgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous ācāryas. Chapter Three Śiva Warns Satī
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Despite the ugly conflict, the sacrifice continued for thousands of years — sacrifice as worship of Hari endures even through human ugliness. Don't abandon practice because the community fails; the practice itself remains worthy.
Reflection Questions
  • Have I abandoned a worthy practice because the community around it failed?
  • How do I distinguish the practice itself from its imperfect practitioners?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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