Shloka 3

Ambikā-vana Śiva-pūjā; Nanda Saved from the Serpent; Śaṅkhacūḍa Slain

Devanagari script

गावो हिरण्यं वासांसि मधु मध्वन्नमाद‍ृता: । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददु: सर्वे देवो न: प्रीयतामिति ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

gāvo hiraṇyaṁ vāsāṁsi madhu madhv-annam ādṛtāḥ brāhmaṇebhyo daduḥ sarve devo naḥ prīyatām iti

Translation

With due reverence they gave the brāhmaṇas cows, gold, garments, and cooked grains mixed with honey, and they prayed, “May the Lord be pleased with us.”

Synonyms

• gāvaḥ: cows
• gāvaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hiraṇyam: gold
• hiraṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiraṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vāsāṁsi: garments
• vāsāṁsi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• madhu: honey
• madhu: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• madhv-annam: sweet food (honeyed food)
• madhv-annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘madhu(naḥ) annam’ = food with honey

• ādṛtāḥ: with respect (reverently disposed)
• ādṛtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-dṛta (कृदन्त; √dṛ/√dar? here √dṛ ‘to respect’ in sense ‘ādṛta’ = honored/with respect)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); past participle used adjectivally; refers to gopālāḥ understood

• brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: to the brāhmaṇas
• brāhmaṇebhyaḥ: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• daduḥ: gave
• daduḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• sarve: all (of them)
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); used pronominally

• devaḥ: the god (Lord)
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• naḥ: of us / our
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); enclitic pronoun

• prīyatām: may (he) be pleased
• prīyatām: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prī (प्री धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive/benedictive sense ‘may he be pleased’

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Vraja-vāsīs (the people of Vraja)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pleasing God through charity (dāna)?

This verse shows that offering gifts—especially to qualified brāhmaṇas—with sincere reverence and the intention “May the Lord be pleased” is a devotional act meant to satisfy God.

Why did the Vraja residents give cows, gold, garments, honey, and sweets to the brāhmaṇas?

In the narrative, they perform respectful giving as a pious, devotional response—seeking divine favor and expressing dependence on the Lord’s mercy by honoring His representatives.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Practice purposeful generosity: support genuine spiritual teachers and dharmic causes, give with respect and humility, and dedicate the act inwardly to the Lord rather than to prestige.