PURPORT

It is a custom of Vedic culture that whenever there is any auspicious ceremony, one should give valuable cows in charity to the brahmanas. Therefore Mother Yasoda requested Krsna, "Instead of being enthusiastic in playing, now please come and be enthusiastic in charity." Yajna-dana-tapah-karma na tyajyam karyam eva tat. As advised in Bhagavad-gita (18.5), sacrifice, charity and austerity should never be given up. Yajno danam tapas caiva pavanani manisinam: even if one is very much advanced in spiritual life, one should not give up these three duties. To observe one's birthday ceremony, one should do something in terms of one of these three items (yajna, dana or tapah), or all of them together.