Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 15
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 explains that blessings spoken by truthful, non-envious, non-violent persons do not become fruitless; their benedictions carry spiritual potency.
As part of protective and auspicious rites for the child, Nanda arranged svastyayana recitations, performed homa (fire offerings), and honored the brāhmaṇas with excellent food to invoke welfare and protection.
Cultivating truthfulness and non-envy makes one’s words trustworthy and beneficial; blessings, prayers, and intentions gain integrity and positive impact.