Shloka 9
Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Life in Dvārakā; the Captive Kings’ Appeal; Nārada Announces the Rājasūya
उपस्थायार्कमुद्यन्तं तर्पयित्वात्मन: कला: । देवानृषीन् पितॄन्वृद्धान्विप्रानभ्यर्च्य चात्मवान् ॥ ७ ॥ धेनूनां रुक्मशृङ्गीनां साध्वीनां मौक्तिकस्रजाम् । पयस्विनीनां गृष्टीनां सवत्सानां सुवाससाम् ॥ ८ ॥ ददौ रूप्यखुराग्राणां क्षौमाजिनतिलै: सह । अलङ्कृतेभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो बद्वं बद्वं दिने दिने ॥ ९ ॥
upasthāyārkam udyantaṁ tarpayitvātmanaḥ kalāḥ devān ṛṣīn pitṝn vṛddhān viprān abhyarcya cātmavān
Cada día el Señor adoraba al sol naciente y ofrecía tarpaṇa a los semidioses, a los sabios y a los antepasados, que son expansiones de Su propio ser. Luego, el Señor, dueño de Sí mismo, rendía culto con esmero a los mayores y a los brāhmaṇas. A esos brāhmaṇas bien ataviados les ofrecía manadas de vacas mansas y apacibles, de cuernos chapados en oro y guirnaldas de perlas; iban cubiertas con finas telas, con la parte delantera de las pezuñas chapada en plata, rebosantes de leche, habiendo parido una sola vez y acompañadas de sus terneros. Cada día el Señor entregaba a los brāhmaṇas eruditos muchos grupos de 13.084 vacas, junto con lino, pieles de ciervo y semillas de sésamo.
Śrīdhara Svāmī quotes several Vedic scriptures to show that in the context of Vedic ritual, a badva here refers to 13,084 cows. The words badvaṁ badvaṁ dine dine indicate that Lord Kṛṣṇa would give the learned brāhmaṇas many such groups of cows on a daily basis. Śrīdhara Svāmī further gives evidence that the usual practice for great saintly kings in previous ages was to give 107 such badva, or groups of 13,084 cows. Thus the total number of cows given in this sacrifice, known as Mañcāra, is 14 lakhs, or 1,400,000.
FAQs
This verse shows Śrī Kṛṣṇa following a disciplined morning routine—worship, honoring devas, sages, forefathers, elders, and brāhmaṇas—teaching that dharma and gratitude are integral to ideal life.
Kṛṣṇa exemplified generosity and brāhmaṇa-sevā, giving richly adorned cows and supporting sacred culture, thereby modeling righteous kingship and devotional charity.
Keep a steady daily sādhana, show respect to elders and teachers, practice gratitude to ancestors, and give regular charity—especially to spiritual causes and those who uphold knowledge and virtue.