Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 3

Lord Rāmacandra’s Charity, Sītā’s Departure, and the Lord’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

आचार्याय ददौ शेषां यावती भूस्तदन्तरा । मन्यमान इदं कृत्‍स्‍नं ब्राह्मणोऽर्हति नि:स्पृह: ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

ācāryāya dadau śeṣāṁ yāvatī bhūs tad-antarā manyamāna idaṁ kṛtsnaṁ brāhmaṇo ’rhati niḥspṛhaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, thinking that because the brāhmaṇas have no material desires they should possess the entire world, Lord Rāmacandra delivered the land between the east, west, north and south to the ācārya.

Synonyms

• आचार्याय: to the teacher/priest
• आचार्याय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; Dative singular (4th)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect, 3rd person singular, active

• शेषाम्: the remaining (land)
• शेषाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd), agreeing with भूः (understood/next)

• यावती: as much as, whatever extent
• यावती: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

• भूः: land, earth
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); demonstrative ‘that’ as first member

• अन्तरा: within/between
• अन्तरा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तरा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, स्थानवाचक; adverb/preposition ‘in between/within’

• मन्यमानः: thinking, considering
• मन्यमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्यमान (कृदन्त, √मन् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय (आत्मनेपद) वर्तमानकृदन्त; Nominative singular (1st)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Pronoun; Accusative singular (2nd)

• कृत्स्नम्: entire, whole
• कृत्स्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd), agreeing with इदम्

• ब्राह्मणः: a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

• अर्हति: deserves, is worthy of
• अर्हति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present, 3rd person singular, active

• निःस्पृहः: free from desire
• निःस्पृहः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःस्पृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

Characters & Entities

• ācārya (spiritual preceptor)
• niḥspṛha brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about giving charity to the ācārya?

This verse praises offering one’s remaining wealth—here, land—to the ācārya, affirming that a truly selfless, desireless brāhmaṇa is a worthy recipient.

Why is a niḥspṛha (desireless) brāhmaṇa said to deserve the whole earth?

Because freedom from selfish desire removes exploitation; such a person can accept resources without greed and use them in a dharmic, God-centered way.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Support genuine teachers and spiritual institutions with integrity, and cultivate niḥspṛhatā—giving without expecting recognition or return.