Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

स्वदत्तां परदत्तां वा ब्रह्मवृत्तिं हरेच्च य: । षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि विष्ठायां जायते कृमि: ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

sva-dattāṁ para-dattāṁ vā brahma-vṛttiṁ harec ca yaḥ ṣaṣṭi-varṣa-sahasrāṇi viṣṭhāyāṁ jāyate kṛmiḥ

Translation

Whether it is his own gift or another’s, one who steals a brāhmaṇa’s livelihood and property is born as a worm in feces for sixty thousand years.

Synonyms

• स्व-दत्ताम्: one’s own given (gift)
• स्व-दत्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दत्त (कृदन्त; √दा धातु)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘स्वया दत्ता’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• पर-दत्ताम्: given by another
• पर-दत्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + दत्त (कृदन्त; √दा धातु)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘परेण दत्ता’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• ब्रह्म-वृत्तिम्: a brāhmaṇa’s livelihood/means of living
• ब्रह्म-वृत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी: ‘ब्रह्मणः वृत्तिः’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• हरेत्: should take away/steal
• हरेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यः: whoever
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• षष्टि-वर्ष-सहस्राणि: for sixty thousand years
• षष्टि-वर्ष-सहस्राणि: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (संख्यापूर्वक-तत्पुरुष/निर्धारण: ‘षष्ट्या वर्षाणां सहस्राणि’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); कालपरिमाण (duration)

• विष्ठायाम्: in excrement
• विष्ठायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• कृमिः: a worm
• कृमिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Nṛga
• brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about stealing a brāhmaṇa’s property or livelihood?

This verse warns that stealing what sustains a brāhmaṇa—whether donated by oneself or someone else—brings severe karmic reaction: birth as a worm in stool for sixty thousand years.

Why does Kṛṣṇa mention such a severe consequence in the story of King Nṛga?

In the Nṛga episode, the narrative highlights how even unintended faults connected to cows and brāhmaṇas can bind one to suffering; Kṛṣṇa underscores the gravity of harming brāhmaṇas’ sustenance and the need for scrupulous dharma.

Practical application: how can this teaching be followed today?

Respect and support genuine spiritual teachers and brāhmaṇas, avoid misusing religious donations or temple funds, and practice honest livelihood and careful charity so that sacred gifts are not diverted or exploited.