Shloka 10

Manvantara Enumerations Begin: Svāyambhuva’s Austerity, Yajñapati’s Protection, and the Avatāras up to Hari

Gajendra Prelude

Devanagari script

आत्मावास्यमिदं विश्वं यत् किञ्चिज्ज‍गत्यां जगत् । तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृध: कस्यस्विद्धनम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

ātmāvāsyam idaṁ viśvaṁ yat kiñcij jagatyāṁ jagat tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam

Translation

Everything in this universe—moving and unmoving—is pervaded by the Paramātmā. Therefore, in a spirit of renunciation, accept and enjoy only what is allotted to you; do not covet another’s wealth.

Synonyms

• आत्मावास्यम्: to be covered/inhabited by the Self
• आत्मावास्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वास्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वस् ‘to dwell/cover’ + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc. Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः वास्यम्)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc. Singular

• विश्वम्: universe
• विश्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc. Singular

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc. Singular (relative pronoun)

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc. Singular; अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite)

• जगत्याम्: in the world
• जगत्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन — Feminine, Locative, Singular

• जगत्: the moving creation
• जगत्: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc. Singular

• तेन: by that/with that
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन — Instrumental, Singular

• त्यक्तेन: renounced/given up
• त्यक्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √त्यज् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन — Instrumental, Singular; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• भुञ्जीथाः: you should enjoy/partake
• भुञ्जीथाः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Singular, Ātmanepada

• मा: do not
• मा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रतिषेध-अव्यय (prohibitive particle)

• गृधः: covet
• गृधः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गृध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Singular; ‘मा’ सह निषेधार्थे

• कस्य: of whom/anyone’s
• कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन — Genitive, Singular (interrogative)

• स्वित्: indeed/at all (particle)
• स्वित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वित् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/अनिश्चितता-बोधक अव्यय (interrogative/emphatic particle)

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Purport

Having described the situation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as transcendental, Svāyambhuva Manu, for the instruction of the sons and grandsons in his dynasty, is now describing all the property of the universe as belonging to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Manu’s instructions are not only for his own sons and grandsons, but for all of human society. The word “man” — or, in Sanskrit, manuṣya — has been derived from the name Manu, for all the members of human society are descendants of the original Manu. Manu is also mentioned in Bhagavad-gītā (4.1) , where the Lord says:

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about seeing everything as belonging to God?

This verse teaches that the entire universe is pervaded by the Supreme Self; therefore one should live with the understanding that nothing is truly “mine,” and accept only what is allotted by the Lord.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize non-covetousness in this teaching?

By grounding life in divine proprietorship, greed and envy are cut at the root; the devotee becomes content, lives righteously, and avoids the karmic bondage that comes from exploiting others’ wealth.

How can I apply “tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā” in modern life?

Earn honestly, live simply, take what you need with gratitude, offer results to the Lord, and consciously avoid comparison-driven desire for others’ possessions.