Chapter 3 · Verse 10

Path of Selfless Service

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः। अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक्

saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛiṣhṭvā purovācha prajāpatiḥ anena prasaviṣhyadhvam eṣha vo ’stviṣhṭa-kāma-dhuk

Word Meanings

saha yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛiṣhṭvā purā uvācha prajā-patiḥ anena prasaviṣhyadhvam eṣhaḥ vaḥ astu iṣhṭa-kāma-dhuk

Translation

In the beginning, the Creator brought forth humankind together with sacrifice and declared, "By this shall you flourish; let this be the wish-fulfilling cow that grants all you desire."

Commentary

सहयज्ञाः together with sacrifice? प्रजाः mankind? सृष्ट्वा having created? पुरा in the beginning? उवाच said? प्रजापतिः Prajapati? अनेन by this? प्रसविष्यध्वम् shall ye propagate? एषः this? वः your? अस्तु let be? इष्टकामधुक् milch cow of desires.Commentary Prajapati is the Creator or Brahma. Kamadhuk is another name for the cow Kamadhenu. Kamadhenu is the cow of Indra from which everyone can milk whatever one desires. (Cf.VIII.4IX.2427X.25).