Shloka 37

Bhadrā and Mitravindā: The Fruits of Namaskāra, Pradakṣiṇā, Hari-nāma, and Śravaṇa of Bhāgavata Kathā

Devanagari script

मौल्येन वेदाध्ययनं प्रकुर्वते तेषां गतिः सूर्यसूनुः सदैव / यदृच्छया प्राप्तधनेन ये तु संतुष्टास्ते ह्यत्र योग्याः सदैव

Transliteration

maulyena vedādhyayanaṃ prakurvate teṣāṃ gatiḥ sūryasūnuḥ sadaiva / yadṛcchayā prāptadhanena ye tu saṃtuṣṭāste hyatra yogyāḥ sadaiva

Translation

Wer das Studium der Veden um eines Preises willen betreibt, dessen Weg führt stets zum Sonnensohn (Yama). Wer jedoch zufrieden ist mit dem Reichtum, der von selbst zufällt, ohne Gier und ohne Feilschen, der ist hier wahrlich immer würdig und geeignet.

Word by Word

• मौल्येन: by payment/for a fee
• मौल्येन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौल्‍य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• वेद-अध्ययनम्: study of the Veda
• वेद-अध्ययनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य अध्ययनम्)

• प्रकुर्वते: they undertake/do
• प्रकुर्वते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada? actually Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• गतिः: the destination/goal
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• सूर्य-सूनुः: the son of the Sun (Yama)
• सूर्य-सूनुः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सूर्यस्य सूनुः)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Nipata (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात/Emphatic)

• यदृच्छया: by chance
• यदृच्छया: Karana (करण/Instrument; adverbial)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदृच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन) (used adverbially)

• प्राप्त-धनेन: with wealth obtained (without effort)
• प्राप्त-धनेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राप्त (कृदन्त, √प्र + आप्) + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय (प्राप्तं धनम्)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (निपात; contrast)

• संतुष्टाः: content/satisfied
• संतुष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संतुष्ट (कृदन्त, √तुष्; past passive participle)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात; reason/emphasis)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• योग्याः: fit/qualified
• योग्याः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात/Emphatic)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Veda-study for a price leads to Yama’s realm; contentment with yadr̥cchā-lābha (unbargained, naturally obtained support) marks fitness and worthiness.

Vedantic Theme: Aparigraha and santoṣa as sattvic stabilizers; niṣkāma orientation purifies svādhyāya and supports inner freedom.

Application: Pursue learning/teaching without setting a price; accept support that comes without bargaining; cultivate simple living to protect the sanctity of study.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: condemnation of selling vidyā/ritual; praise of santoṣa and non-greed as dharmic virtues; Garuda Purana: Yama as consequence-marker for adharma in religious livelihood

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of not selling Vedic learning in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that treating Vedic study as a paid commodity is a serious ethical fault, leading one toward Yama’s domain—symbolizing karmic accountability and unpleasant post-death consequences.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It links a motive-driven religious act (studying/teaching the Veda for payment) with a darker karmic destination associated with Yama, while praising contentment with uncontrived gain as a dharmic qualification that supports a better fate.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred learning with sincerity rather than profit-seeking, practice contentment (saṃtoṣa), and avoid greed-driven bargaining in spiritual matters—keeping livelihood and learning ethically aligned.