Shloka 6

Devanagari script

यस्तयोरात्मज: कल्प आत्मना च धनेन च । वृत्तिं न दद्यात्तं प्रेत्य स्वमांसं खादयन्ति हि ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

yas tayor ātmajaḥ kalpa ātmanā ca dhanena ca vṛttiṁ na dadyāt taṁ pretya sva-māṁsaṁ khādayanti hi

Translation

A son who, though able, does not maintain his parents with his own strength and wealth is, after death, forced to eat his own flesh.

Synonyms

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• tayoḥ: of those two
• tayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual; 'of those two (parents)'

• ātmajaḥ: son
• ātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātma (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (कृदन्त; जन् धातु, क)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'born of oneself' = son

• kalpa: O dear (one)
• kalpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; address

• ātmanā: by oneself
• ātmanā: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; 'by oneself/with one’s own person'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• dhanena: with wealth
• dhanena: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• vṛttim: maintenance/support
• vṛttim: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

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

• dadyāt: should give / would give
• dadyāt: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person, Singular; parasmaipada; with negation = 'does not give/should not fail to give'

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/object—of khādayanti)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; correlative pronoun

• pretya: after death
• pretya: Kāla (काल/adverbial time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra + i (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्) used adverbially; 'having died/after death'

• sva-māṁsam: his own flesh
• sva-māṁsam: Karma (कर्म/object—eaten)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + māṁsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'one’s own flesh'

• khādayanti: make (him) eat / feed (him)
• khādayanti: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: khād (धातु)
• Form: Causative stem (णिच्) 'khāday-' from khād; Present (लट्), 3rd Person, Plural; parasmaipada

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava
• Parents (mātā-pitarau)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about serving and maintaining one’s parents?

This verse states that a capable son must support his parents with his effort and wealth; neglecting their maintenance brings severe karmic consequences after death.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 10 Chapter 45?

Krishna was instructing Uddhava on dharma and proper conduct, emphasizing that devotion includes responsible duty—especially caring for parents and elders.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life according to Bhagavatam wisdom?

If you are able—through work, time, or resources—ensure your parents’ basic needs, respect, and security are cared for; spiritual life is strengthened by such responsible compassion.