vidurāsyartvijo ruṣā
vidurāsyartvijo ruṣā
srug-ghastāñ juhvato 'bhyetya
svayambhūḥ pratyaṣedhata
After informing the king of sacrifice, Brahmā approached the priests of Pṛthu, who, ladle in hand, were offering oblations in anger. He stopped them.
Asya means “of Pṛthu.”
|| 4.19.30 ||
na vadhyo bhavatām indro
yad yajño bhagavat-tanuḥ
yaṁ jighāṁsatha yajñena
yasyeṣṭās tanavaḥ surāḥ
You should not kill Indra because he is the body of the Lord. You wish to kill Indra by a sacrifice in which the devatās, part of his body, are worshipped.
Indra is the body of the Lord. The brāhmaṇas should not try to kill the form of the Lord. What is the use of being brāhmaṇas then (bhavatām)? You wish to kill him by sacrifice, but how can you kill the personification of sacrifice, Indra, by sacrifice? It is like throwing a small amount of milk in a fire. Moreover, the devatās, who are parts of his body, are worshipped by us in the sacrifice. How can he die? You did not consider this.
|| 4.19.31 ||
tad idaṁ paśyata mahad-
dharma-vyatikaraṁ dvijāḥ
indreṇānuṣṭhitaṁ rājñaḥ
karmaitad vijighāṁsatā
O brāhmaṇas! See the great disruption of dharma that Indra has caused by desiring to obstruct the King’s sacrifice.
Moreover, by his dress, adharma will increase. See how adharma has become factual in this kingdom. Dharma-vyatikaram means the path of the heretics (pāṣaṇda).
|| 4.19.32 ||
pṛthu-kīrteḥ pṛthor bhūyāt
tarhy ekona-śata-kratuḥ
alaṁ te kratubhiḥ sviṣṭair
yad bhavān mokṣa-dharma-vit
Pṛthu, of great fame, should perform only ninety-nine sacrifices. What is to be gained by well performed sacrifices, since you know the path of liberation?
“What are you suggesting I do?” Ninety-nine sacrifices is a great number (pṛthu). This will give him greater fame (pṛthu-kīrteḥ) that Indra with his hundred sacrifices. By that, his fame will be complete. This will happen because of my blessings. The number ninety-nine is specifically mentioned, being one short of a hundred. That number is perfect for Pṛthu. Though his vow was incomplete, by my blessings, the ninety-nine become perfect. Having spoken to the priests, Brahmā then addressed Pṛthu and said, “These sacrifices are not necessary for you.”
|| 4.19.33 ||
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