SB 10.7.12 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

पूर्ववत् स्थापितं गोपैर्बलिभि: सपरिच्छदम् । विप्रा हुत्वार्चयांचक्रुर्दध्यक्षतकुशाम्बुभि: ॥ १२ ॥

Verse text

pūrvavat sthāpitaṁ gopair balibhiḥ sa-paricchadam viprā hutvārcayāṁ cakrur dadhy-akṣata-kuśāmbubhiḥ

Synonyms

pūrva — vat — as the handcart had been situated before ; sthāpitam — again assembled with the pots situated properly ; gopaiḥ — by the cowherd men ; balibhiḥ — all of whom were very strong and stout and who could therefore assemble the parts without difficulty ; sa — paricchadam — with all the paraphernalia kept on it ; viprāḥ — the brāhmaṇas ; hutvā — after performing a fire ceremony ; arcayām cakruḥ — performed ritualistic ceremonies ; dadhi — with curd ; akṣata — grains of rice ; kuśa — and kuśa grass ; ambubhiḥ — with water .

Translation

After the strong, stout cowherd men assembled the pots and paraphernalia on the handcart and set it up as before, the brāhmaṇas performed a ritualistic ceremony with a fire sacrifice to appease the bad planet, and then, with rice grains, kuśa, water and curd, they worshiped the Supreme Lord.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

After the strong, stout cowherd men assembled the pots and paraphernalia on the handcart and set it up as before, the brāhmaṇas performed a ritualistic ceremony with a fire sacrifice to appease the bad planet, and then, with rice grains, kuśa, water and curd, they worshiped the Supreme Lord. KB 10.7.12 After this, all the stronger cowherd men put the broken cart in order, and all the scattered things were set up nicely as before. The brāhmaṇas thereafter offered oblations to the sacrificial fire with yogurt, butter, kuśa grass and water. They worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead for the good fortune of the child.

Purport

The handcart was loaded with heavy utensils and other paraphernalia. To set the cart back in its original position required much strength, but this was easily done by the cowherd men. Then, according to the system of the gopa-jāti, various Vedic ceremonies were performed to appease the calamitous situation.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

The cart was restored to its original form and position by strong cowherdmen. This indicates that the cart was very large. They worshipped the cart because the cart was a main utensil of the cowherd men, being the abode of Laksmi, and the storehouse of accumulated wealth.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

This verse shows that the brāhmaṇas also were unaware of Kṛṣṇa’s powers. Since strong cowherds set the cart properly, it is understood that cart must have been large and heavy. This was indicated previously in the quotation from the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa. Again Yaśodā placed Kṛṣṇa beneath the cart without fear. The brāhmaṇas performed a graha-homa for general protection using ghee, with Vedic mantras like bhūr bhuvaḥ svāhā in order to eliminate insecurity and then worshipped the cart using kuśa and sacred water along with rice mixed with yogurt, since the cart was the main shelter of the cowherds.