Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 41

Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti

Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties

Devanagari script

प्रतिग्रहं मन्यमानस्तपस्तेजोयशोनुदम् । अन्याभ्यामेव जीवेत शिलैर्वा दोषद‍ृक् तयो: ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

pratigrahaṁ manyamānas tapas-tejo-yaśo-nudam anyābhyām eva jīveta śilair vā doṣa-dṛk tayoḥ

Translation

Ein Brāhmaṇa, der meint, das Annehmen von Almosen zerstöre seine Askese, seine geistige Kraft und seinen Ruhm, soll von den beiden anderen brahmanischen Tätigkeiten leben: vedisches Wissen lehren und Opferhandlungen vollziehen. Hält er auch diese für seiner spirituellen Stellung abträglich, so sammle er weggeworfene Körner auf Feldern und Märkten und lebe ohne Abhängigkeit von anderen.

Synonyms

• pratigraham: acceptance of gifts
• pratigraham: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• manyamānaḥ: considering (it)
• manyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; Śānac-pratyaya present middle participle (वर्तमानकाले शानच्), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ātmanepada sense ‘considering’

• tapas-tejo-yaśaḥ-nudam: that which diminishes austerity, vigor, and fame
• tapas-tejo-yaśaḥ-nudam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक) + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक) + nuda (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from √nud)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain (समाहार/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-भाव): ‘tapas-tejo-yaśāṁ nudam’ = diminishing austerity, vigor, fame; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies pratigraham

• anyābhyām: by the other two (ways)
• anyābhyām: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘by the other two (means)’

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• jīveta: should live
• jīveta: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jīv (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• śilaiḥ: by gleaning (grains from fields/stone-like hard gleanings); by śilā-collection
• śilaiḥ: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

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

• doṣa-dṛk: one who sees the fault (in that)
• doṣa-dṛk: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘doṣān paśyati’); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifies implied subject

• tayoḥ: of those two
• tayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); refers to the two means (anyābhyām / śilaiḥ etc.)

Purport

A pure devotee of the Lord should always remember that the Supreme Personality of Godhead will personally take care of him. As the Lord states in Bhagavad-gītā (9.22) :

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about accepting gifts (pratigraha) for a renunciant?

This verse states that accepting gifts can undermine austerity, spiritual potency, and reputation; therefore a renunciant should avoid dependence on gifts and live by simpler, less entangling means.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11 Chapter 17?

In the Uddhava Gita, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on varṇāśrama-dharma, including the conduct of a sannyāsī; here He emphasizes non-dependence and purity by discouraging gift-acceptance that can create obligation and attachment.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Keep spiritual practice free from hidden obligations: simplify needs, avoid compromising integrity for favors, and choose honest, low-attachment support systems that protect one’s character and focus.