Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 54

Arcana-vidhi: The Method of Deity Worship

Vedic, Tantric, and Mixed

Devanagari script

य: स्वदत्तां परैर्दत्तां हरेत सुरविप्रयो: । वृत्तिं स जायते विड्भुग् वर्षाणामयुतायुतम् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ sva-dattāṁ parair dattāṁ hareta sura-viprayoḥ vṛttiṁ sa jāyate viḍ-bhug varṣāṇām ayutāyutam

Translation

Wer das Eigentum der Halbgötter oder der Brāhmaṇas stiehlt — ob es einst von ihm selbst oder von einem anderen gegeben wurde — muss im nächsten Leben als Wurm im Kot hundert Millionen Jahre leben.

Synonyms

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• स्व-दत्ताम्: (property) given by oneself
• स्व-दत्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दत्त (कृदन्त; √दा (धातु) क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; ‘स्वया दत्ता’ इति (self-given)

• परैः: by others
• परैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; करण/कर्तृवाचक (by others)

• दत्ताम्: given (as a gift)
• दत्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दत्त (कृदन्त; √दा (धातु) क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मपद (given)

• हरेत: should take away/steal
• हरेत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सुर-विप्रयोः: of gods and brāhmaṇas
• सुर-विप्रयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), द्विवचन; ‘देवब्राह्मणयोः’ इति (of the gods and the brāhmaṇas)

• वृत्तिम्: livelihood/means of living
• वृत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; अन्वादेश (correlative pronoun)

• जायते: is born/becomes
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विड्-भुक्: a stool-eater (worm/low being)
• विड्-भुक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विड् (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज् (धातु; ‘भुक्’ इति नामधातु-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; ‘विड् भुङ्क्ते’ इति (stool-eater)

• वर्षाणाम्: of years
• वर्षाणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• अयुत-अयुतम्: ten-thousand times ten-thousand (a hundred million)
• अयुत-अयुतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अयुत (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या) + अयुत (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण (a myriad of myriads)

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Demigods (Sura)
• Brāhmaṇas (Vipra)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about stealing offerings meant for demigods or brāhmaṇas?

In Bhagavatam 11.27.54, Lord Kṛṣṇa states that stealing what has been donated for the demigods or brāhmaṇas leads to severe karmic reaction—rebirth as a stool-eating creature for an extremely long duration.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava-gītā section (Canto 11), Krishna teaches bhakti along with strict dharma for worship and sacred giving; this verse warns Uddhava that misappropriating religious charity and offerings is a grave offense that obstructs spiritual progress.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life (temples, charities, and donations)?

Do not misuse or divert donated funds, sacred offerings, or charity meant for spiritual purposes; maintain transparent stewardship, honor the donor’s intent, and treat religious resources as sacred trust.