Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.5.19
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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gokula-rakṣāyām
—
in giving protection to Gokula
Gokula (go + kula, 'the family of cows') + rakṣā ('protection'). Nanda's first act before leaving is to appoint protection for Gokula — a king does not leave his realm unguarded. Gauḍīya teaching: a gṛhastha's responsibilities extend beyond his own family to the saṅga and the community.
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mathurām
—
to Mathurā
Mathurā: the kingdom's seat under Kaṁsa, and later one of the seven mokṣa-dā cities. The verse marks the geographical tension of the chapter — Vraja (Kṛṣṇa's true home) versus Mathurā (the political center) — which will resolve only when Kṛṣṇa Himself returns to Mathurā years later to kill Kaṁsa.
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vārṣikyam-karam
—
yearly tax
Vārṣika (annual) + kara ('tax'). The same word kara also means 'hand' — what one renders by hand. Even under a tyrant, the dharmic householder renders his hand-payment; he does not rebel for personal convenience. The kingdom's protection of cows depends on this dharmic discipline.
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dātum
—
to pay
Infinitive of √dā ('to give'). Even tax-paying is a form of dāna in the Vedic mood — the verb refuses the modern grudge. Nanda gives the tax as he gives charity: as part of his dharma.
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kuru-udvaha
—
O best protector of the Kuru dynasty
Vocative addressed to Parīkṣit. Śukadeva is reminding the dying king that his ancestors, the Pāṇḍavas, were also protectors of dharma under hostile circumstances — Parīkṣit must hear Nanda's story as kin-history, not legend.
Because the killing of babies was going on and had already become known, Nanda Mahārāja was very much afraid for his newborn child. Thus he appointed the local cowherd men to protect his home and child. He wanted to go immediately to Mathurā to pay the taxes due and also to offer some presentation for the sake of his newborn son. For the protection of the child, he had worshiped various demigods and forefathers and given charity to everyone’s satisfaction. Similarly, Nanda Mahārāja wanted not only to pay Kaṁsa the yearly taxes but also to offer some presentation so that Kaṁsa too would be satisfied. His only concern was how to protect his transcendental child, Kṛṣṇa.
Many days after the birth of his son, thinking of his son as a great treasure, Nanda began to think, " In all good fortune there are many impediments." First satisfying the devas, pitrs and planets with worship, without delay he then departed for Mathura with gifts of gold coins, jewels and cloth to give to the evil king Kamsa as yearly tax to please him.
Previously because of lack of a son Nanda had no possessiveness of wealth and had no fear of Kaṁsa. With the birth of a precious son he became anxious to protect him, worrying greatly. He therefore personally went quickly to Mathurā city to ally insurmountable fears. He engaged cowherds in protecting Vraja. He had to give yearly taxes at the beginning of the year starting in Śrāvana month. Śukadeva addresses Parīkṣit as Kurūdvaha, leader of the Kurus, to show that Yudhiṣṭhira was also anxious to protect the remaining son in his dynasty. (Similarly Nanda wanted to protect Vraja.)
- Before today's most ordinary obligation (a bill, a meeting, an errand), silently dedicate it as raksha for Kṛṣṇa and those entrusted to you.
- Notice when fear for what you love sharpens your udyama — let that vigilance, not anxiety, drive your effort today.
- Refuse to abandon worldly responsibilities in the name of devotion; like Nanda, discharge them precisely so the inner treasure stays guarded.
Even the father of the Lord pays taxes to a usurper. Bhakti does not exempt the devotee from worldly responsibility — it places him precisely inside it, with a heart that no Kaṁsa can claim. Nanda riding to Mathurā with the king's annual tax is the model gṛhastha: render to Caesar, then ride home to Kṛṣṇa.
My note
Source: vedabase.io