Shloka 14

The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property

Devanagari script

स्वलङ्कृतेभ्यो गुणशीलवद्‍भ्य: सीदत्कुटुम्बेभ्य ऋतव्रतेभ्य: । तप:श्रुतब्रह्मवदान्यसद्‍भ्य: प्रादां युवभ्यो द्विजपुङ्गवेभ्य: ॥ १४ ॥ गोभूहिरण्यायतनाश्वहस्तिन: कन्या: सदासीस्तिलरूप्यशय्या: । वासांसि रत्नानि परिच्छदान् रथा- निष्टं च यज्ञैश्चरितं च पूर्तम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

sv-alaṅkṛtebhyo guṇa-śīlavadbhyaḥ sīdat-kuṭumbebhya ṛta-vratebhyaḥ tapaḥ-śruta-brahma-vadānya-sadbhyaḥ prādāṁ yuvabhyo dvija-puṅgavebhyaḥ

Translation

I first honored the brāhmaṇas who received my gifts by adorning them with fine ornaments. Those foremost twice-born were young, their families in need, yet rich in character and virtue—vowed to truth, famed for austerity, deeply learned in the Vedas, and saintly in conduct. I gave them cows, land, gold and houses, along with horses, elephants, marriageable girls with maidservants, and also sesame, silver, fine beds, clothing, jewels, furnishings and chariots. Moreover, I performed Vedic sacrifices and carried out various pious works for the welfare of all.

Synonyms

• su-alaṅkṛtebhyaḥ: to the well-adorned
• su-alaṅkṛtebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + alaṅkṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ, kta with alam)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.)/Nap. possible as adjective; here Datīva (Dat. 4), Bahuvacana (pl.); avyayībhāva: su-alaṅkṛta = ‘well-adorned’

• guṇa-śīlavadbhyaḥ: to those possessing virtues and good conduct
• guṇa-śīlavadbhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Caturthī (Dat. 4), Bahuvacana (pl.); tatpuruṣa: guṇa-śīla-vat = ‘possessing virtues and good conduct’

• sīdat-kuṭumbebhyaḥ: to those with distressed households
• sīdat-kuṭumbebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sīdat (कृदन्त; √sad, śatṛ present participle) + kuṭumba (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Caturthī (Dat. 4), Bahuvacana (pl.); karmadhāraya: ‘whose households are sinking/afflicted’

• ṛta-vratebhyaḥ: to the truthful/vow-keeping
• ṛta-vratebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Caturthī (Dat. 4), Bahuvacana (pl.); tatpuruṣa: ‘having vows of truth/ṛta’

• tapaḥ-śruta-brahma-vadānya-sadbhyaḥ: to the good, austere, learned, brahman-knowing, generous (ones)
• tapaḥ-śruta-brahma-vadānya-sadbhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + śruta (कृदन्त; √śru, kta) + brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vadānya (प्रातिपदिक) + sat (कृदन्त; √as, śatṛ/adj)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Caturthī (Dat. 4), Bahuvacana (pl.); bahu-member tatpuruṣa: ‘to the good (sat) who are austere, learned, knowers of brahman, and generous’

• prādām: I gave
• prādām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/past), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana (sg.), parasmaipada; with preverb pra-

• yuvabhyaḥ: to the young
• yuvabhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Caturthī (Dat. 4), Bahuvacana (pl.); viśeṣaṇa

• dvija-puṅgavebhyaḥ: to the foremost brāhmaṇas (twice-born)
• dvija-puṅgavebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Caturthī (Dat. 4), Bahuvacana (pl.); tatpuruṣa: ‘bulls among the twice-born’

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about giving charity to brāhmaṇas?

This verse praises charity given to foremost brāhmaṇas who are truthful, austere, learned, spiritually realized, and generous—showing that dāna is most potent when directed to qualified recipients.

Why does the Bhagavatam emphasize the qualities of the recipients of charity?

Because dharmic giving is not merely about quantity; it is about honoring spiritual integrity—truthfulness, tapas, śruti, and brahma-jñāna—so that charity supports genuine sādhus and sacred culture.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Give thoughtfully: support people and institutions that demonstrably live by integrity, self-discipline, learning, and service—rather than giving blindly for prestige.