Shloka 26
Nanda Mahārāja Celebrates Kṛṣṇa’s Birth; Vasudeva Warns of Danger
कच्चित् पशव्यं निरुजं भूर्यम्बुतृणवीरुधम् । बृहद्वनं तदधुना यत्रास्से त्वं सुहृद्वृत: ॥ २६ ॥
kaccit paśavyaṁ nirujaṁ bhūry-ambu-tṛṇa-vīrudham bṛhad vanaṁ tad adhunā yatrāsse tvaṁ suhṛd-vṛtaḥ
สหายผู้เป็นที่รัก นันทมหาราชา ที่ซึ่งท่านอยู่กับมิตรสหาย บัดนี้ป่าใหญ่นั้นเหมาะแก่สัตว์และโคหรือไม่ ปลอดโรคและความลำบากหรือไม่ ขอให้มีน้ำ หญ้า และพืชพรรณอุดมสมบูรณ์
For human happiness, one must care for the animals, especially the cows. Vasudeva therefore inquired whether there was a good arrangement for the animals where Nanda Mahārāja lived. For the proper pursuit of human happiness, there must be arrangements for the protection of cows. This means that there must be forests and adequate pasturing grounds full of grass and water. If the animals are happy, there will be an ample supply of milk, from which human beings will benefit by deriving many milk products with which to live happily. As enjoined in Bhagavad-gītā (18.44) , kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ vaiśya-karma-svabhāvajam. Without giving proper facilities to the animals, how can human society be happy? That people are raising cattle to send to the slaughterhouse is a great sin. By this demoniac enterprise, people are ruining their chance for a truly human life. Because they are not giving any importance to the instructions of Kṛṣṇa, the advancement of their so-called civilization resembles the crazy efforts of men in a lunatic asylum.
FAQs
This verse highlights an ideal Vraja setting—healthy, disease-free, and abundant in water and grasses—showing that proper care of land and cows (paśavyam) is part of righteous, devotional living.
In the context of Krishna’s birth celebrations, Nanda expresses affectionate concern for Vasudeva’s welfare—whether his residence is safe and prosperous, and whether he is supported by friendly companions.
It encourages building communities that support health, mutual goodwill, and harmony with nature—prioritizing clean water, sustainable food sources, and supportive relationships centered on dharma and devotion.