Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.75.18
స సమ్రాడ్ రథమారుఢ: సదశ్వం రుక్మమాలినమ్ ।
వ్యరోచత స్వపత్నీభి: క్రియాభి: క్రతురాడివ ॥ ౧౮ ॥
sa samrāḍ ratham āruḍhaḥ
[sa samraad ratham aarudhah]
sad-aśvaṁ rukma-mālinam
[sad-ashvam rukma-maalinam]
vyarocata sva-patnībhiḥ
[vyarochata sva-patneebhih]
kriyābhiḥ kratu-rāḍ iva
[kriyaabhih kratu-raad iva]
Word-for-word
saḥ
—
he
samrāṭ
—
the emperor, Yudhiṣṭhira
ratham
—
his chariot
āruḍhaḥ
—
mounted
sat
—
excellent
aśvam
—
whose horses
rukma
—
golden
mālinam
—
with hangings
vyarocata
—
he shone forth
sva - patnībhiḥ
—
with his wives
kriyābhiḥ
—
with its rituals
kratu
—
of sacrifices
rāṭ
—
the king (Rājasūya)
iva
—
as if .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa samrāḍ ratham āruḍhaḥ
saḥ
he
samrāṭ
the emperor, Yudhiṣṭhira
ratham
his chariot
āruḍhaḥ
mounted
sad-aśvaṁ rukma-mālinam
sat
excellent
aśvam
whose horses
rukma
golden
mālinam
with hangings
vyarocata sva-patnībhiḥ
vyarocata
he shone forth
sva - patnībhiḥ
with his wives
kriyābhiḥ kratu-rāḍ iva
kriyābhiḥ
with its rituals
kratu
of sacrifices
rāṭ
the king (Rājasūya)
iva
as if .
Important Words
-
samrāṭ
—
the emperor
The Vedic title earned by completing the Rājasūya. Not a self-claimed crown — a yajña-given one. Gauḍīyas note: real authority in śāstra is conferred by service, not seized.
-
sat-aśvam
—
with excellent horses
Compound: sat (true, excellent) + aśva (horse). Even the horses are sat — true. The chariot's parts are unfaked, like the king's dharma.
-
kratu-rāṭ
—
the king of sacrifices
Compound: kratu (sacrifice) + rāṭ (king). The Rājasūya itself is the king-among-sacrifices. The verse's simile compares Yudhiṣṭhira to his own yajña — the sacrificer has become indistinguishable from his sacrifice.
-
vyarocata
—
he shone forth
Imperfect of vi-√ruc (to shine intensely). Bhakti-light, not regalia-light. The chapter is consistently distinguishing two kinds of glow: the devotee's, and the envious onlooker's heat.
The emperor, mounted upon his chariot drawn by excellent horses wearing golden collars, appeared splendid in the company of his wives, just like the brilliant Rājasūya sacrifice surrounded by its various rituals.
Purport
King Yudhiṣṭhira with his queens appeared like the personified Rājasūya sacrifice surrounded by its beautiful rituals.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The emperor, mounted upon his chariot drawn by excellent horses wearing golden collars, appeared splendid in the company of his wives, just like the brilliant Rājasūya sacrifice surrounded by its various rituals.
Commentary
This verse describes events after they had finished their water sports. Otherwise it can refer to events before the water sports. Just as the king of sacrifices the rajasuya, the main element, looks resplendent with its component activities, so Yudhisthira looked resplendent with his queens.
Jīva Gosvāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
Again the king’s going out is described. He left with Draupadī and others.
Related values & verses
Related values
Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Yajña (Sacrifice / Spirit of Offering)Dana (Charity / Generosity)Nishkama Karma (Selfless Action)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Analogy
An emperor on a chariot beside his queens looks like every other emperor — until you see the Rājasūya behind him, and realize his ornament is not horses but a sacrifice. Yudhiṣṭhira shines because the yajña he carries shines.
My note
Source: vedabase.io