SB 10.24.27 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

हूयन्तामग्नय: सम्यग्ब्राह्मणैर्ब्रह्मवादिभि: अन्नं बहुगुणं तेभ्यो देयं वो धेनुदक्षिणा: ॥ २७ ॥

Verse text

hūyantām agnayaḥ samyag brāhmaṇair brahma-vādibhiḥ annaṁ bahu-guṇaṁ tebhyo deyaṁ vo dhenu-dakṣiṇāḥ

Synonyms

hūyantām — should be invoked ; agnayaḥ — the sacrificial fires ; samyak — in the proper manner ; brāhmaṇaiḥ — by the brāhmaṇas ; brahma — vādibhiḥ — who are learned in the Vedas ; annam — food ; bahu — guṇam — well prepared ; tebhyaḥ — to them ; deyam — should be given ; vaḥ — by you ; dhenu — dakṣiṇāḥ — cows and other gifts as remuneration .

Translation

The brāhmaṇas who are learned in the Vedic mantras must properly invoke the sacrificial fires. Then you should feed the priests with nicely prepared food and reward them with cows and other gifts.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The brāhmaṇas who are learned in the Vedic mantras must properly invoke the sacrificial fires. Then you should feed the priests with nicely prepared food and reward them with cows and other gifts. KB 10.24.27 “… and invite the learned brāhmaṇas who can chant the Vedic hymns and offer oblations to the fire. The brāhmaṇas should be given all kinds of grain in charity. Then decorate all the cows and feed them well. After performing this, give money in charity to the brāhmaṇas.

Purport

According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa instructed His father and other residents of Vṛndāvana in the technical details of this Vedic sacrifice to assure the quality of the sacrifice and also to inspire Nanda and the others with faith in the concept of such a sacrifice. Thus the Lord mentioned that there must be orthodox brāhmaṇas, regular sacrificial fires and proper distribution of charity. And things were to be done in the order given by the Lord.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Krsna speaks this verse in order to make the sacrifice splendid and to produce faith in everyone. "Have the brahmanas perform sacrifices and offer them food and cows along with money."

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

The procedure is described. The fires should be properly (samyag) invoked by brāhmaṇas who know the Vedas. Or the fires should be invoked by proper Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇas who know the Vedas. Many fires should be called. This means the three sacred fires gārhapatya (householder’s fire), āhavanīya (eastern) and dakṣiṇa (southern). The southern fire is to ward off Rākṣasas and other demons. Instead of bahu-guṇam sometimes bahu-vidham is seen.