Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 12

Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Life in Dvārakā; the Captive Kings’ Appeal; Nārada Announces the Rājasūya

Devanagari script

अवेक्ष्याज्यं तथादर्शं गोवृषद्विजदेवता: । कामांश्च सर्ववर्णानां पौरान्त:पुरचारिणाम् । प्रदाप्य प्रकृती: कामै: प्रतोष्य प्रत्यनन्दत ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

avekṣyājyaṁ tathādarśaṁ go-vṛṣa-dvija-devatāḥ kāmāṁś ca sarva-varṇānāṁ paurāntaḥ-pura-cāriṇām pradāpya prakṛtīḥ kāmaiḥ pratoṣya pratyanandata

Translation

Rồi Ngài nhìn thấy bơ ghee, gương, bò và bò đực, các brāhmaṇa và chư thiên, và bảo đảm rằng mọi giai tầng sống trong cung điện và khắp thành đều được thỏa mãn bằng các lễ vật. Sau đó Ngài chào các vị đại thần, làm họ hoan hỷ bằng cách đáp ứng mọi ước nguyện.

Synonyms

• avekṣya: having inspected
• avekṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-īkṣ (धातु √ईक्ष्/√इक्ष्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्) from अव + √ईक्ष्; ‘having looked at/inspected’

• ājyam: ghee
• ājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative singular

• tathā: also
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘likewise/also’

• ādarśam: mirror
• ādarśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādarśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative singular

• go-vṛṣa-dvija-devatāḥ: cows, bulls, brāhmaṇas, and deities
• go-vṛṣa-dvija-devatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva: ‘cows, bulls, brāhmaṇas, and deities’; Feminine, Nominative plural (devatāḥ as head)

• kāmān: desired things
• kāmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative plural

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• sarva-varṇānām: of all social classes
• sarva-varṇānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: ‘of all classes/castes’; Masculine, Genitive plural

• paura-antaḥ-pura-cāriṇām: of the townspeople and palace residents
• paura-antaḥ-pura-cāriṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paura (प्रातिपदिक) + antaḥpura (प्रातिपदिक) + cārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva: ‘townspeople and inner-palace dwellers’; Genitive plural (cāriṇām)

• pradāpya: having bestowed
• pradāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-dā (धातु √दा)
• Form: Causative gerund (णिच् + क्त्वान्त): ‘having caused to be given / having bestowed’

• prakṛtīḥ: his subjects
• prakṛtīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative plural; here ‘subjects/people under rule’

• kāmaiḥ: with desired gifts
• kāmaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण; means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental plural

• pratoṣya: having satisfied
• pratoṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-toṣ (धातु √तुष्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्) from प्र + √तुष्; ‘having fully satisfied’

• pratyanandata: he rejoiced
• pratyanandata: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-√nand (धातु √नन्द्)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; ātmanepada usage in meaning ‘rejoiced’

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• brāhmaṇas
• devatās
• citizens of Dvārakā
• palace attendants

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about honoring cows and brāhmaṇas?

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa Himself honoring cows, bulls, brāhmaṇas, and the deities—presenting it as righteous conduct (dharma) and a devotional priority for societal well-being.

Why did Krishna give gifts to citizens and palace attendants in Dvārakā?

As the ideal ruler and householder, Kṛṣṇa satisfied people according to their rightful needs and dispositions, maintaining harmony and expressing compassion through appropriate charity.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Practice dharmic generosity: respect sacred values (God, elders, teachers), care for dependents, and give thoughtfully—supporting others in ways that genuinely help them.