Shloka 40

The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property

Devanagari script

न मे ब्रह्मधनं भूयाद् यद् गृध्वाल्पायुषो नरा: । पराजिताश्‍च्युता राज्याद् भवन्त्युद्वेजिनोऽहय: ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

na me brahma-dhanaṁ bhūyād yad gṛdhvālpāyuṣo narāḥ parājitāś cyutā rājyād bhavanty udvejino ’hayaḥ

Translation

Ich begehre nicht den Reichtum der Brāhmaṇas. Wer gierig danach verlangt, wird kurzlebig, wird besiegt, verliert sein Reich und wird zu einer Schlange, die andere quält.

Synonyms

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• ब्रह्म-धनम्: brāhmaṇa-wealth / sacred wealth
• ब्रह्म-धनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी: ‘ब्रह्मणः धनम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• भूयात्: may there be
• भूयात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• यत्: which/that (because)
• यत्: Hetu/Upapada (हेतु/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular); सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• गृध्वा: having coveted
• गृध्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गृध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), ‘having coveted’

• अल्प-आयुषः: short-lived
• अल्प-आयुषः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘अल्पम् आयुः येषाम्’); पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• नराः: men
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• पराजिताः: defeated
• पराजिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराजित (कृदन्त; √जि धातु, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• च्युताः: fallen/deposed
• च्युताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: च्युत (कृदन्त; √च्यु धातु, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• राज्यात्: from the kingdom
• राज्यात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (singular)

• भवन्ति: become
• भवन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• उद्वेजिनः: anxious/terrified
• उद्वेजिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्वेजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• अहयः: like snakes
• अहयः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

Characters & Entities

• Satrājit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about greed for wealth and its consequences?

This verse warns that greed for coveted wealth makes people anxious and can lead to defeat, loss of status, and constant fear—likened to the agitation of serpents.

Why did Satrājit speak against possessing the ‘brāhmaṇa-wealth’?

In the Syamantaka episode, the jewel became a cause of suspicion, conflict, and danger; realizing its destructive impact, Satrājit expresses remorse and rejects such wealth that provokes greed and fear.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

Treat wealth as a responsibility, not an obsession: avoid envy-driven acquisition, practice contentment, and prioritize integrity—otherwise success can turn into stress, insecurity, and conflict.