Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 14
Utthāna Ceremony, Śakaṭa-bhañga, Tṛṇāvarta-vadha, and the Vision of the Universe in Kṛṣṇa’s Mouth
येऽसूयानृतदम्भेर्षाहिंसामानविवर्जिता: । न तेषां सत्यशीलानामाशिषो विफला: कृता: ॥ १३ ॥ इति बालकमादाय सामर्ग्यजुरुपाकृतै: । जलै: पवित्रौषधिभिरभिषिच्य द्विजोत्तमै: ॥ १४ ॥ वाचयित्वा स्वस्त्ययनं नन्दगोप: समाहित: । हुत्वा चाग्निं द्विजातिभ्य: प्रादादन्नं महागुणम् ॥ १५ ॥
ye ’sūyānṛta-dambherṣā- hiṁsā-māna-vivarjitāḥ na teṣāṁ satya-śīlānām āśiṣo viphalāḥ kṛtāḥ
When brāhmaṇas are free from envy, untruthfulness, unnecessary pride, grudges, disturbance by the opulence of others, and false prestige, their blessings never go in vain. Considering this, Nanda Mahārāja soberly took Kṛṣṇa on his lap and invited such truthful brāhmaṇas to perform a ritualistic ceremony according to the holy hymns of the Sāma Veda, Ṛg Veda and Yajur Veda. Then, while the hymns were being chanted, he bathed the child with water mixed with pure herbs, and after performing a fire ceremony, he sumptuously fed all the brāhmaṇas with first-class grains and other food.
Nanda Mahārāja was very confident about the qualifications of the brāhmaṇas and their blessings. He was fully confident that simply if the good brāhmaṇas showered their blessings, the child Kṛṣṇa would be happy. The blessings of qualified brāhmaṇas can bring happiness not only to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but to everyone. Because Kṛṣṇa is self-sufficient, He does not require anyone’s blessings, yet Nanda Mahārāja thought that Kṛṣṇa required the blessings of the brāhmaṇas. What then is to be said of others? In human society, therefore, there must be an ideal class of men, brāhmaṇas, who can bestow blessings upon others, namely, upon the kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras, so that everyone will be happy. Kṛṣṇa therefore says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.13) that human society must have four social orders ( cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ ); it is not that everyone should become a śūdra or a vaiśya and human society will prosper. As enunciated in Bhagavad-gītā, there must be a class of brāhmaṇas with qualities like satya (truthfulness), śama (peacefulness), dama (self-control) and titikṣā (tolerance).
FAQs
This verse describes exalted brāhmaṇas bathing the child with sanctified water empowered by Ṛg, Sāma, and Yajur mantras and purifying herbs—showing the Bhagavatam’s recognition of mantra and sāttvika rites for protection and purification.
In the narrative, protective and purificatory rites are performed for the child’s welfare; the brāhmaṇas conduct an abhiṣeka using Vedic mantras and herbs as part of traditional safeguards and blessings.
Keep life centered on sāttvika purity—prayer, sacred sound (mantra), and devotion—seeking blessings through genuine spiritual practice rather than anxiety, while remembering that ultimate protection rests with the Lord.