Cow Quote #19

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Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 5 Ch.16 Text 24

 

TRANSLATION

Similarly, on Kumuda Mountain there is a great banyan tree, which is called

Çatavalça because it has a hundred main branches. From those branches come

many roots, from which many rivers are flowing. These rivers flow down from

the top of the mountain to the northern side of Ilävåta-varña for the

benefit of those who live there. Because of these flowing rivers, all the

people have ample supplies of milk, yogurt, honey, clarified butter [ghee],

molasses, food grains, clothes, bedding, sitting places and ornaments. All

the objects they desire are sufficiently supplied for their prosperity, and

therefore they are very happy.

PURPORT

The prosperity of humanity does not depend on a demoniac civilization that

has no culture and no knowledge but has only gigantic skyscrapers and huge

automobiles always rushing down the highways. The products of nature are

sufficient. When there is a profuse supply of milk, yogurt, honey, food

grains, ghee, molasses, dhotis, saris, bedding, sitting places and

ornaments, the residents are actually opulent. When a profuse supply of

water from the river inundates the land, all these things can be produced,

and there will not be scarcity. This all depends, however, on the

performance of sacrifice as described in the Vedic literature.

annäd bhavanti bhütäni

parjanyäd anna-sambhavaù

yajïäd bhavati parjanyo

yajïaù karma-samudbhavaù

"All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains.

Rains are produced by performance of yajïa [sacrifice], and yajïa is born of

prescribed duties." These are the prescriptions given in Bhagavad-gétä

(3.14). If people follow these principles in full Kåñëa consciousness, human

society will be prosperous, and they will be happy both in this life and in

the next.