Shloka 22

Devanagari script

त्रिभि: क्रमैरसन्तुष्टो द्वीपेनापि न पूर्यते । नववर्षसमेतेन सप्तद्वीपवरेच्छया ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

tribhiḥ kramair asantuṣṭo dvīpenāpi na pūryate nava-varṣa-sametena sapta-dvīpa-varecchayā

Translation

One who is not satisfied with three paces of land will not be fulfilled even by gaining one island among the seven dvīpas with their nine varṣas; having obtained one, he will still hanker for the others.

Synonyms

• त्रिभिः: by three
• त्रिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; numeral adjective

• क्रमैः: by steps/stages
• क्रमैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• असन्तुष्टः: unsatisfied
• असन्तुष्टः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असन्तुष्ट (कृदन्त; सन्तुष् धातु + क्त, नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त past passive participle used adjectivally

• द्वीपेन: by/with an island (continent)
• द्वीपेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphatic/also

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• पूर्यते: is satisfied/filled
• पूर्यते: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘is filled/satisfied’

• नव-वर्ष-समेतेन: with (that) consisting of nine varṣas/regions
• नव-वर्ष-समेतेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + समेत (कृदन्त; सम्-इ धातु + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘नववर्षैः समेत’ = ‘accompanied by nine years/regions’

• सप्त-द्वीप-वर-इच्छया: by the desire for the best among the seven islands
• सप्त-द्वीप-वर-इच्छया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘सप्तद्वीपानां वरस्य इच्छा’ = desire for the best of seven islands

Characters & Entities

• Bali Mahārāja
• Vāmana-deva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about never-ending material desire?

This verse teaches that if one remains unsatisfied even with a small gain, then even vast possessions—an island, an entire dvīpa, or more—will not bring fulfillment, because desire expands with acquisition.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī say this in the Vāmana–Bali episode?

In the context of Bali Mahārāja’s gift to Vāmana-deva, Śukadeva highlights how worldly ambition grows without limit, contrasting it with the need for surrender and true satisfaction in devotion.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Practice contentment by setting limits on acquisition, noticing how wants multiply, and redirecting ambition toward lasting goals—service, character, and devotion—rather than endless accumulation.