Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.84.52
अथर्त्विग्भ्योऽददात् काले यथाम्नातं स दक्षिणा: ।
स्वलङ्कृतेभ्योऽलङ्कृत्य गोभूकन्या महाधना: ॥ ५२ ॥
athartvigbhyo ’dadāt kāle
[athartvigbhyo ’dadaat kaale]
yathāmnātaṁ sa dakṣiṇāḥ
[yathaamnaatam sa dakshinaah]
sv-alaṅkṛtebhyo ’laṅkṛtya
[sv-alankritebhyo ’lankritya]
go-bhū-kanyā mahā-dhanāḥ
[go-bhoo-kanyaa mahaa-dhanaah]
Word-for-word
atha
—
then
ṛtvigbhyaḥ
—
to the priests
adadāt
—
gave
kāle
—
at the appropriate time
yathā - āmnātam
—
as stipulated in the scriptures
saḥ
—
he
dakṣiṇāḥ
—
gifts of thanks
su - alaṅkṛtebhyaḥ
—
who were richly adorned
alaṅkṛtya
—
decorating them even more elaborately
go
—
cows
bhū
—
land
kanyāḥ
—
and marriageable girls
mahā
—
greatly
dhanāḥ
—
valuable .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
athartvigbhyo ’dadāt kāle
atha
then
ṛtvigbhyaḥ
to the priests
adadāt
gave
kāle
at the appropriate time
yathāmnātaṁ sa dakṣiṇāḥ
yathā - āmnātam
as stipulated in the scriptures
saḥ
he
dakṣiṇāḥ
gifts of thanks
su - alaṅkṛtebhyaḥ
who were richly adorned
sv-alaṅkṛtebhyo ’laṅkṛtya
alaṅkṛtya
decorating them even more elaborately
go-bhū-kanyā mahā-dhanāḥ
go
cows
bhū
land
kanyāḥ
and marriageable girls
mahā
greatly
dhanāḥ
valuable .
Important Words
-
dakṣiṇāḥ
—
gifts of thanks (to the priests)
Dakṣiṇā is the closing payment that completes the yajña. Gauḍīyas note that yajña without dakṣiṇā is incomplete — the sastra (Manu 11.39) treats stingy yajña as worse than no yajña.
-
yathā-āmnātam
—
as stipulated in the scriptures
yathā (according to) + āmnāya (received tradition, śruti). Vasudeva pays according to śruti-prescription, not by improvisation. Gauḍīyas insist that even at the height of generosity, scriptural injunction sets the floor.
-
go-bhū-kanyāḥ
—
cows, land, and marriageable girls
go (cow) + bhū (land) + kanyā (girl). The three classical dakṣiṇā items. Gauḍīyas note that the cow heads the list — Bhagavān is gopāla, the cow-protector, and gifts of cows please Him in any context.
-
su-alaṅkṛtebhyaḥ
—
to those who were richly adorned
su- + alaṅkṛta (decorated). The priests were already richly adorned. Gauḍīyas read this as a quiet poetic touch: the priests are already glowing; Vasudeva adds to that glow.
Then, at the appropriate time and according to scripture, Vasudeva remunerated the priests by decorating them with precious ornaments, though they were already richly adorned, and offering them valuable gifts of cows, land and marriageable girls.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Then, at the appropriate time and according to scripture, Vasudeva remunerated the priests by decorating them with precious ornaments, though they were already richly adorned, and offering them valuable gifts of cows, land and marriageable girls.
Commentary
Vasudeva (sa) gave donation (daksina) in the form of gold and jewels as well as cows, land and daughters of brahmanas.
Jīva Gosvāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
After the sacrifice (atha), he decorated the priests with ornaments and gave them donations consisting of great gems, and gold, land, cows and girls.
Śrīdhara Svāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
After the sacrifice (atha), according to the scriptures, he decorated the priests with ornaments, though they were already ornaments, and gave them donations consisting of great or valuable gems, and gold, land, cows and girls.
Related values & verses
Related values
Discriminative WisdomAsteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Vasudeva remunerates the priests with cows, gold, and gifts. Sacred service deserves material support — generosity to those who carry the tradition is part of the rite itself.
Reflection Questions
- Whom do I depend on for spiritual nourishment that I have not materially supported?
- Where is my generosity to teachers and traditions disproportionate to what I receive?
Analogy
Vasudeva, paying the priests, decorates them further though they are already adorned — like a host who finds his guests already shining and decides to add a small light next to them anyway. The dakṣiṇā is generosity in excess: cows, land, marriageable girls, and ornaments on the priest's ornaments.
My note
Source: vedabase.io