Shloka 39

अर्जुनस्य अन्त्येष्टि, द्वारकाप्लावनम्, कलिप्रवेशः, कालोपदेशः

Devanagari script

भुङ्क्ते ऽप्रदाय विप्रेभ्यो एको मिष्टम् अथो भवान् किं वा कृपणवित्तानि हृतानि भवतार्जुन

Transliteration

bhuṅkte 'pradāya viprebhyo eko miṣṭam atho bhavān kiṃ vā kṛpaṇavittāni hṛtāni bhavatārjuna

Translation

“ব্ৰাহ্মণসকলক নিদিয়াকৈ তুমি একাই সুস্বাদু আহাৰ খোৱা নেকি? নতুবা, হে অৰ্জুন, তুমি কৃপণৰ সঞ্চিত ধন হৰণ কৰিছা নেকি?”

Word by Word

• भुङ्क्ते: eats; enjoys
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• अप्रदाय: without giving (first)
• अप्रदाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ-प्र-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; नञ्-पूर्वक (अप्रदाय = न प्रदाय)

• विप्रेभ्यः: to the Brahmins
• विप्रेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), बहुवचन

• एकः: alone
• एकः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मिष्टम्: sweet food; delicacy
• मिष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अथो: or else; then indeed
• अथो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय) + उ (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: then/indeed)

• भवान्: you (sir)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; आदरार्थक-प्रयोग (honorific ‘you’)

• किम्: whether; what (indeed)
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रश्नार्थक-निपात (interrogative particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• कृपणवित्तानि: the wealth of the poor/miserly
• कृपणवित्तानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपण (प्रातिपदिक) + वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (कृपणानां वित्तानि/कृपण-वित्तानि)

• हृतानि: stolen; taken away
• हृतानि: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Kartr (कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; आदरार्थक-प्रयोग

• अर्जुन: O Arjuna
• अर्जुन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Uncertain from single-verse excerpt (a reproaching speaker addressing a royal figure styled ‘Arjuna’ within the Ansha 4 dynastic narration, related by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya).

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (Vipras)
• Arjuna (addressed figure)

FAQs

What is the significance of giving to Brahmins in this Vishnu Purana verse?

The verse treats dana as a visible marker of dharma: a ruler’s enjoyment is censured if it is not preceded by rightful giving, especially to those associated with learning and ritual maintenance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain rightful enjoyment of wealth in the dynastic sections?

Through genealogical stories and sharp moral rebukes like this, Parāśara frames royal prosperity as legitimate only when aligned with dharma—charity, protection, and restraint—rather than isolated indulgence.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the moral order being defended is ultimately grounded in Vishnu as the sustainer of dharma; the verse implies that sovereignty must reflect that sustaining principle through righteous giving and governance.