# SB 4.21.44 > गुणायनं शीलधनं कृतज्ञं वृद्धाश्रयं संवृणतेऽनु सम्पदः । > प्रसीदतां ब्रह्मकुलं गवां च जनार्दनः सानुचरश्च मह्यम् ॥४४॥ ## Text > guṇāyanaṁ śīla-dhanaṁ kṛta-jñaṁ > vṛddhāśrayaṁ saṁvṛṇate 'nu sampadaḥ > prasīdatāṁ brahma-kulaṁ gavāṁ ca > janārdanaḥ sānucaraś ca mahyam ## Synonyms *guṇa-ayanam*—one who has acquired all the good qualities; *śīla-dhanam*—one whose wealth is good behavior; *kṛta-jñam*—one who is grateful; *vṛddha-āśrayam*—one who takes shelter of the learned; *saṁvṛṇate*—achieves; *anu*—certainly; *sampadaḥ*—all opulences; *prasīdatām*—be pleased upon; *brahma-kulam*—the *brāhmaṇa* class; *gavām*—the cows; *ca*—and; *janārdanaḥ*—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; *sa*—with; *anucaraḥ*—along with His devotee; *ca*—and; *mahyam*—upon me. ## Translation **Whoever acquires the brahminical qualifications—whose only wealth is good behavior, who is grateful and who takes shelter of experienced persons—gets all the opulence of the world. I therefore wish that the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His associates be pleased with the brāhmaṇa class, with the cows and with me.** ## Purport The Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped with the prayer *namo brahmaṇya-devāya go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca.* Thus it is clear that the Supreme Personality of Godhead respects and protects the *brāhmaṇas* and brahminical culture, as well as the cows; in other words, wherever there are *brāhmaṇas* and brahminical culture, there are cows and cow protection. In a society or civilization in which there are no *brāhmaṇas* or brahminical culture, cows are treated as ordinary animals and slaughtered, at the sacrifice of human civilization. The specific mention of the word *gavām* by Pṛthu Mahārāja is significant because the Lord is always associated with cows and His devotees. In pictures Lord Kṛṣṇa is always seen with cows and His associates such as the cowherd boys and the *gopīs.* Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cannot be alone. Therefore Pṛthu Mahārāja said, *sānucaraś ca,* indicating that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always associated with His followers and devotees. A devotee acquires all the good qualities of the demigods; he is *guṇāyanam,* the reservoir of all good qualities. His only asset is good behavior, and he is grateful. Gratitude for the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is one of the qualities of *brāhmaṇas* and Vaiṣṇavas. Everyone should feel grateful to the Supreme Personality of Godhead because He is maintaining all living entities and supplying all their necessities. As stated in the *Vedas* (*Kaṭha Upaniṣad* 2.2.13), *eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān:* the supreme one is supplying all necessities to the living entities. The living entity who is therefore grateful to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is certainly qualified with good characteristics. The word *vṛddhāśrayam* is very significant in this verse. *Vṛddha* refers to one who is advanced in knowledge. There are two kinds of old men—he who is advanced in years and he who is experienced in knowledge. One who is advanced in knowledge is actually *vṛddha* (*jñāna-vṛddha*); one does not become *vṛddha* simply by advancing in age. *Vṛddhāśrayam,* a person who takes shelter of a superior person who is advanced in knowledge, can acquire all the good qualities of a *brāhmaṇa* and be trained in good behavior. When one actually attains good qualities, becomes grateful for the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and takes shelter of a bona fide spiritual master, he is endowed with all opulence. Such a person is a *brāhmaṇa* or Vaiṣṇava. Therefore Pṛthu Mahārāja invokes the blessings and mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with His associates, devotees, Vaiṣṇavas, *brāhmaṇas* and cows.