Shloka 27
Uddhava Recalls Kṛṣṇa’s Mission: Earth’s Burden, Royal Dharma, and the Prelude to Dvārakā’s Withdrawal
हिरण्यं रजतं शय्यां वासांस्यजिनकम्बलान् । यानं रथानिभान् कन्या धरां वृत्तिकरीमपि ॥ २७ ॥
hiraṇyaṁ rajataṁ śayyāṁ vāsāṁsy ajina-kambalān yānaṁ rathān ibhān kanyā dharāṁ vṛtti-karīm api
They gave in charity not only well-fed cows, but also gold and silver, beds, garments, seats of animal skin, blankets, vehicles, chariots, elephants, maidens, and land sufficient for maintenance.
All these charities were meant for the brāhmaṇas, whose lives were devoted entirely to the welfare of society, both spiritually and materially. The brāhmaṇas were not giving their services as paid servants, but the society provided them with all necessities. It was arranged for some of the brāhmaṇas, who were in difficulty for marriage, to be given girls. The brāhmaṇas, therefore, had no economic problems. The kṣatriya kings and rich mercantile men would provide them with all that they needed, and in exchange the brāhmaṇas were completely devoted to the elevation of society. That was the way of social cooperation between the different castes. When the brāhmaṇa class or caste gradually became easygoing, being fed by the society although they had no brahminical qualifications, they degraded themselves into brahma-bandhus, or disqualified brāhmaṇas, and thus other members of society also gradually fell down from the social standard of progressive life. As described in Bhagavad-gītā, the caste system is the creation of the Lord and is arranged according to the quality of work rendered to society and not in terms of birthright, as falsely claimed in the present degraded society.
FAQs
This verse lists valuable gifts—gold, silver, beds, clothing, vehicles, elephants, servants, and land—showing the Vedic culture of dāna, while implying that even the greatest material offerings remain worldly and should support higher dharma and devotion.
In the narration surrounding Vidura’s meeting with Uddhava, Śukadeva illustrates the opulence and social customs of the time and sets a contrast between material prosperity and the deeper purpose of life—seeking spiritual truth and bhakti.
Practice dāna responsibly—offer wealth, resources, and service to dharmic and devotional causes—while cultivating detachment, remembering that material assets are temporary and meant to support spiritual progress.