Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

यथाहं प्रणमे विप्राननुकालं समाहित: । तथा नमत यूयं च योऽन्यथा मे स दण्डभाक् ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

yathāhaṁ praṇame viprān anukālaṁ samāhitaḥ tathā namata yūyaṁ ca yo ’nyathā me sa daṇḍa-bhāk

Translation

As I always, with a composed mind, bow down to the brāhmaṇas, so should all of you likewise bow to them. Whoever acts otherwise will incur My punishment.

Synonyms

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (correlative adverb: 'as/just as')

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री (common), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• praṇame: I bow
• praṇame: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• viprān: to the brāhmaṇas
• viprān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• anukālam: at all times
• anukālam: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu-kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial: 'at every time/always')

• samāhitaḥ: composed, attentive
• samāhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā > samāhita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying 'aham')

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्-सम्बन्धी प्रकारवाचक (correlative: 'so/likewise')

• namata: bow (you all)
• namata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• yūyam: you (all)
• yūyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'otherwise')

• me: of me / my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) एकवचन; enclitic

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (demonstrative pronoun)

• daṇḍa-bhāk: deserving punishment
• daṇḍa-bhāk: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṇḍa + bhāj (प्रातिपदिक; √bhaj/√bhāj 'to partake')
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः: 'daṇḍaṃ bhajate'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of 'saḥ')

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• brāhmaṇas (vipras)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about respecting brāhmaṇas?

This verse shows Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself regularly offering respectful obeisances to brāhmaṇas and instructing others to do the same, warning that disregard invites punishment.

Why did Krishna say this about bowing to brāhmaṇas?

Within the Dvārakā narrative of Canto 10, Kṛṣṇa establishes proper dharma by His own example—honoring brāhmaṇas and requiring the same standard of conduct from others.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Cultivate humility and reverence toward genuine spiritual teachers and saintly persons—through respectful speech, service, and gratitude—rather than pride or neglect.