Shloka 11
Gṛhastha-Dharma: How a Householder Attains Liberation by Offering All to Vāsudeva
आश्वाघान्तेऽवसायिभ्य: कामान्संविभजेद्यथा । अप्येकामात्मनो दारां नृणां स्वत्वग्रहो यत: ॥ ११ ॥
āśvāghānte ’vasāyibhyaḥ kāmān saṁvibhajed yathā apy ekām ātmano dārāṁ nṛṇāṁ svatva-graho yataḥ
কুকুৰ, পতিত লোক আৰু চাণ্ডাল আদি অস্পৃশ্যসকলকো গৃহস্থে যথোচিত প্ৰয়োজনীয় বস্তু ভাগ কৰি পালন কৰিব লাগে। ঘৰৰ অতি প্ৰিয় পত্নীকো অতিথি আৰু সাধাৰণ লোকৰ আদৰ-সেৱাৰ বাবে অৰ্পণভাবৰে আগবঢ়াব লাগে।
Although in modern society the dog is accepted as part of one’s household paraphernalia, in the Vedic system of household life the dog is untouchable; as mentioned here, a dog may be maintained with proper food, but it cannot be allowed to enter one’s house, what to speak of the bedroom. Outcastes or untouchable caṇḍālas should also be provided with the necessities for life. The word used in this connection is yathā, which means “as much as deserved.” The outcastes should not be given money with which to indulge in more than they need, for otherwise they will misuse it. At the present moment, for example, low-class men are generally paid quite amply, but instead of using their money to cultivate knowledge and advance in life, such low-class men use their extra money for wine-drinking and similar sinful activities. As mentioned in Bhagavad-gītā (4.13) , cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ: there must be four divisions of human society according to the work and qualities of men. Men with the lowest qualities cannot do any work that requires higher intelligence. However, although such a division of men must exist according to their quality and work, it is suggested herewith that everyone must have the necessities of life. The communists of the present day are in favor of supplying the necessities of life to everyone, but they consider only the human beings and not the lower animals. The Bhāgavatam’s principles are so broad, however, that it recommends that the necessities of life be supplied to everyone, man or animal, regardless of good or bad qualities.
FAQs
This verse teaches that a householder should share necessities and comforts with dependents and others—like travelers sharing at a rest stop—rather than hoarding out of possessiveness.
Śukadeva highlights how the false idea of ownership (svatva-graha) can arise even around what is most intimate, becoming a root cause of possessiveness and bondage in human life.
Treat resources as entrusted by God: budget for generosity, support family and dependents responsibly, and consciously reduce the “mine” mentality through gratitude, service, and devotion.