क्षत्रियो याजको यस्य चण्डालस्य विशेषत:। कथं सदसि भोक्तारो हविस्तस्य सुरर्षय:||1.59.13||
Meaning
When a kshatriya serves as priest, especially for a chandala, how shall gods and sages partake of the offerings?
Word-by-word (pada-artha)
| Word | Devanagari | Meaning | Grammatical role |
|---|---|---|---|
| kṣatriyaḥ yājakaḥ yasya | क्षत्रियः याजकः यस्य | of what [Chandala] the Kshatriya is the sacrificer | Nominative / Nominative / Genitive |
| caṇḍālasya viśeṣataḥ | चण्डालस्य विशेषतः | specially, of the Chandala | Genitive / Adverbial |
| katham sadasi bhoktāraḥ | कथम् सदसि भोक्तारः | how, in the assembly, will [they be] eaters | Interrogative / Locative / Nominative plural |
| haviḥ tasya suraṛṣayaḥ | हविः तस्य सुरऋषयः | of his oblation, the divine sages | Accusative / Genitive / Nominative plural |
Scholar commentary
valmikiramayan.net Prose Commentary
Desiraju Hanumanta Rao's prose rendering with embedded explanatory notes
The source explains the doctrinal basis of Vashishtha's sons' objection: a chandala is uninitiated into esoteric Vedic knowledge yet is funding this ritual, and a kshatriya -- who can perform a sacrifice but cannot officiate one or teach the Vedas like a Brahmin -- is acting as priest. Neither role carries Vedic sanctity, so gods and sages could not properly partake of the ritual's remnant offerings.
1 of 16 traditions have commentary on this shloka. Traditions without a verse-specific commentary here are omitted rather than filled in.
Reference: 1.59.13 · Bāla Kāṇḍa