Shloka 7
गाश्चारयन्तावविदूर ओदनं रामाच्युतौ वो लषतो बुभुक्षितौ । तयोर्द्विजा ओदनमर्थिनोर्यदि श्रद्धा च वो यच्छत धर्मवित्तमा: ॥ ७ ॥
gāś cārayantāv avidūra odanaṁ rāmācyutau vo laṣato bubhukṣitau tayor dvijā odanam arthinor yadi śraddhā ca vo yacchata dharma-vittamāḥ
Nicht weit von hier hüten Rāma und Acyuta die Kühe. Sie sind hungrig und wünschen etwas von eurer Speise. Darum, o Zweifachgeborene, ihr besten Kenner des Dharma, wenn ihr Glauben habt, gebt Ihnen Nahrung.
The cowherd boys doubted the generosity of the brāhmaṇas, and thus they used the word bubhukṣitau, meaning that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were hungry. The boys expected the brāhmaṇas to know the Vedic injunction annasya kṣuditaṁ pātram : “Anyone who is hungry is a fit candidate for receiving food in charity.” But if the brāhmaṇas would not recognize the authority of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, their title dvija would be taken to mean merely “born from two parents” ( dvi — from two, ja — born) rather than “twice-born.” When the brāhmaṇas did not respond to the cowherd boys’ initial request, the boys addressed the brāhmaṇas, with a slight trace of sarcasm, as dharma-vit-tamāḥ, “O best of the knowers of religion.”
FAQs
This verse shows that even those expert in dharma and sacrifice must have śraddhā expressed through service—here, giving food to Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma—otherwise ritual knowledge remains incomplete.
Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, while herding cows nearby, arranged for their friends to request food, revealing whether the ritualistic brāhmaṇas would recognize devotion and hospitality as true dharma.
Do not let religious routine become mechanical—pair spiritual practice with compassion, hospitality, and direct service to God and His devotees.