FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.19.7

यत्र धर्मदुघा भूमि: सर्वकामदुघा सती । दोग्धि स्माभीप्सितानर्थान् यजमानस्य भारत ॥ ७ ॥
yatra dharma-dughā bhūmiḥ
[yatra dharma-dughaa bhoomih]
sarva-kāma-dughā satī
[sarva-kaama-dughaa satee]
dogdhi smābhīpsitān arthān
[dogdhi smaabheepsitaan arthaan]
yajamānasya bhārata
[yajamaanasya bhaarata]
yatra — where dharma-dughā — producing sufficient milk for religiosity bhūmiḥ — the land sarva-kāma — all desires dughā — yielding as milk satī — the cow dogdhi sma — fulfilled abhīpsitān — desirable arthān — objects yajamānasya — of the sacrificer bhārata — my dear Vidura.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yatra dharma-dughā bhūmiḥ
yatra
where
dharma-dughā
producing sufficient milk for religiosity
bhūmiḥ
the land
sarva-kāma-dughā satī
sarva-kāma
all desires
dughā
yielding as milk
satī
the cow
dogdhi smābhīpsitān arthān
dogdhi sma
fulfilled
abhīpsitān
desirable
arthān
objects
yajamānasya bhārata
yajamānasya
of the sacrificer
bhārata
my dear Vidura.
My dear Vidura, in that great sacrifice the entire land came to be like the milk-producing kāma-dhenu, and thus, by the performance of yajña, all daily necessities for life were supplied.

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.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Vidura! At that sacrifice, the pure earth, yielding all desirable things, yielding dharma, offered all desired objects to Pṛthu.
The whole land became like kāma-dhenu, supplying daily necessities by yajña. Sacrifice doesn't just produce spiritual fruit; the land itself becomes wish-fulfilling.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I imagine yajña and provision as separate when they are actually one system?
  • What does it mean that my consumption is part of a sacrificial economy?
📝 My note

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