FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.4.6

आब्रह्मघोषोर्जितयज्ञवैशसं विप्रर्षिजुष्टं विबुधैश्च सर्वश: । मृद्दार्वय:काञ्चनदर्भचर्मभि- र्निसृष्टभाण्डं यजनं समाविशत् ॥ ६ ॥
ābrahma-ghoṣorjita-yajña-vaiśasaṁ
[aabrahma-ghoshorjita-yajna-vaishasam]
viprarṣi-juṣṭaṁ vibudhaiś ca sarvaśaḥ
[viprarshi-jushtam vibudhaish cha sarvashah]
mṛd-dārv-ayaḥ-kāñcana-darbha-carmabhir
[mrid-daarv-ayah-kaanchana-darbha-charmabhir]
nisṛṣṭa-bhāṇḍaṁ yajanaṁ samāviśat
[nisrishta-bhaandam yajanam samaavishat]
ā — from all sides brahma-ghoṣa — with the sounds of the Vedic hymns ūrjita — decorated yajña — sacrifice vaiśasam — destruction of animals viprarṣi-juṣṭam — attended by the great sages vibudhaiḥ — with demigods ca — and sarvaśaḥ — on all sides mṛt — clay dāru — wood ayaḥ — iron kāñcana — gold darbha — kuśa grass carmabhiḥ — skins nisṛṣṭa — made of bhāṇḍam — sacrificial animals and pots yajanam — sacrifice samāviśat — entered.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ābrahma-ghoṣorjita-yajña-vaiśasaṁ
ā
from all sides
brahma-ghoṣa
with the sounds of the Vedic hymns
ūrjita
decorated
yajña
sacrifice
vaiśasam
destruction of animals
viprarṣi-juṣṭaṁ vibudhaiś ca sarvaśaḥ
viprarṣi-juṣṭam
attended by the great sages
vibudhaiḥ
with demigods
ca
and
sarvaśaḥ
on all sides
mṛd-dārv-ayaḥ-kāñcana-darbha-carmabhir
mṛt
clay
dāru
wood
ayaḥ
iron
kāñcana
gold
darbha
kuśa grass
carmabhiḥ
skins
nisṛṣṭa-bhāṇḍaṁ yajanaṁ samāviśat
nisṛṣṭa
made of
bhāṇḍam
sacrificial animals and pots
yajanam
sacrifice
samāviśat
entered.
She then reached her father’s house, where the sacrifice was being performed, and entered the arena where everyone was chanting the Vedic hymns. The great sages, brāhmaṇas and demigods were all assembled there, and there were many sacrificial animals, as well as pots made of clay, stone, gold, grass and skin, which were all requisite for the sacrifice.

When learned sages and brāhmaṇas assemble to chant Vedic mantras, some of them also engage in arguing about the conclusion of the scriptures. Thus some of the sages and brāhmaṇas were arguing, and some of them were chanting the Vedic mantras, so the entire atmosphere was surcharged with transcendental sound vibration. This transcendental sound vibration has been simplified in the transcendental vibration Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. In this age, no one is expected to be highly educated in the Vedic ways of understanding because people are very slow, lazy and unfortunate. Therefore Lord Caitanya has recommended the sound vibration Hare Kṛṣṇa, and in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.32) it is also recommended: yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ. At the present moment it is impossible to gather sacrificial necessities because of the poverty of the population and their lack of knowledge in Vedic mantras. Therefore for this age it is recommended that people gather together and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is accompanied by His associates. Indirectly this indicates Lord Caitanya, who is accompanied by His associates Nityānanda, Advaita and others. That is the process of performing yajña in this age.

Another significant point in this verse is that there were animals for sacrifice. That these animals were meant for sacrifice does not mean that they were meant to be killed. The great sages and realized souls assembled were performing yajñas, and their realization was tested by animal sacrifice, just as, in modern science, tests are made on animals to determine the effectiveness of a particular medicine. The brāhmaṇas entrusted with the performance of yajña were very realized souls, and to test their realization an old animal was offered in the fire and rejuvenated. That was the test of a Vedic mantra. The animals gathered were not meant to be killed and eaten. The real purpose of a sacrifice was not to replace a slaughterhouse but to test a Vedic mantra by giving an animal new life. Animals were used to test the power of Vedic mantras, not for meat.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Satī entered the sacrificial arena, made completely splendid by the chanting of the Vedas and sacrificial killing of animals, which was attended by brahmarṣis and devatās, and filled with vessels made of clay, wood, iron, gold, darbhā grass and hide. She entered the place of sacrifice (yajanam). It was made splendid (ūrjita) completely (ā) by chanting of the Vedas. The sacrifice involved killing of animals (vaiśasam). Or another meaning is that at that place there was a battle, a competition between rival scriptural opinions, with each camp desiring to win. It was attended by the devatās as well as the brahmarṣis. There were vessels made of clay and other materials.
Satī arrived at a fully outfitted sacrifice — pots of every material, animals, demigods, hymns. External completeness coexists with internal corruption. Don't be fooled by elaborate setup; ask whether the host's heart is sound.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I impressed by elaborate setup while ignoring corrupt motive?
  • What 'sacrifice' in my life has perfect form but wrong intention?
📝 My note

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