Shloka 11
Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava
श्रीअदितिरुवाच भद्रं द्विजगवां ब्रह्मन्धर्मस्यास्य जनस्य च । त्रिवर्गस्य परं क्षेत्रं गृहमेधिन्गृहा इमे ॥ ११ ॥
śrī-aditir uvāca bhadraṁ dvija-gavāṁ brahman dharmasyāsya janasya ca tri-vargasya paraṁ kṣetraṁ gṛhamedhin gṛhā ime
Aditi said: O revered brāhmaṇa husband, the brāhmaṇas, the cows, dharma, and the welfare of the people are all auspicious. O master of the household, the three aims—dharma, artha, and kāma—find their finest field in household life; thus this home is filled with good fortune.
In household life one can develop the three principles of religion, economic development and sense gratification according to the regulations given in the śāstras, but to attain liberation one must give up household life and place himself in the transcendental renounced order. Kaśyapa Muni was not in the renounced order of life. Therefore he is addressed here once as brahman and another time as gṛhamedhin. Aditi, his wife, assured him that as far as household life was concerned, everything was going nicely, and the brāhmaṇas and cows were being honored and protected. In other words, there were no disturbances; household life was duly progressing.
FAQs
This verse states that the homes of householders are a supreme “field” where people can cultivate dharma and properly pursue the three aims of life—dharma, artha, and kāma—when guided by Vedic principles.
Aditi begins by invoking auspiciousness for brāhmaṇas and cows because their protection and honor are foundational to Vedic social and spiritual order, supporting dharma in society.
Make the home a place of integrity, worship, charity, and service—supporting spiritual practice and ethical livelihood—so that material goals remain aligned with dharma.