Shloka 7
Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention
False Renunciation Exposed
यत्र धर्मदुघा भूमि: सर्वकामदुघा सती । दोग्धि स्माभीप्सितानर्थान् यजमानस्य भारत ॥ ७ ॥
yatra dharma-dughā bhūmiḥ sarva-kāma-dughā satī dogdhi smābhīpsitān arthān yajamānasya bhārata
اے ودور، اُس عظیم یَجْن میں ساری زمین دھرم دُغھا کامدھینو کی مانند ہو گئی اور یجمان کو زندگی کی تمام ضروریات فراہم کرنے لگی۔
In this verse the word dharma-dughā is significant, for it indicates kāma-dhenu. Kāma-dhenu is also known as surabhi. Surabhi cows inhabit the spiritual world, and, as stated in Brahma-saṁhitā, Lord Kṛṣṇa is engaged in tending these cows: surabhīr abhipālayantam. One can milk a surabhi cow as often as one likes, and the cow will deliver as much milk as one requires. Milk, of course, is necessary for the production of so many milk products, especially clarified butter, which is required for the performance of great sacrifices. Unless we are prepared to perform the prescribed sacrifices, our supply of the necessities of life will be checked. Bhagavad-gītā confirms that Lord Brahmā created human society along with yajña, the performance of sacrifice. Yajña means Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and sacrifice means working for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this age, however, it is very difficult to find qualified brāhmaṇas who can perform sacrifices as prescribed in the Vedas. Therefore it is recommended in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ( yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyaiḥ ) that by performing saṅkīrtana-yajña and by satisfying the yajña-puruṣa, Lord Caitanya, one can derive all the results derived by great sacrifices in the past. King Pṛthu and others derived all the necessities of life from the earthly planet by performing great sacrifices. Now this saṅkīrtana movement has already been started by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. People should take advantage of this great sacrifice and join in the Society’s activities; then there will be no scarcity. If saṅkīrtana-yajña is performed, there will be no difficulty, not even in industrial enterprises. Therefore this system should be introduced in all spheres of life — social, political, industrial, commercial, etc. Then everything will run very peacefully and smoothly.
FAQs
This verse describes the earth as dharma-dughā—like a cow that yields the ‘milk’ of righteousness—meaning that when dharma is upheld (especially through proper sacrifice), nature supplies fitting prosperity and desired results.
Śukadeva speaks to King Parīkṣit (a descendant of Bharata), using “Bhārata” as an honorific while explaining how, in Pṛthu’s righteous reign and sacrifice, the earth provided abundant benefits to the yajamāna.
Live and work in alignment with dharma—integrity, gratitude, and service—because the Bhagavatam’s principle is that righteous conduct invites sustainable prosperity and well-being, rather than exploitative gain.