Shloka 17

Devanagari script

भैक्ष्यचर्यासु निरता: कृशा गुरुकुलाश्रया: । निः:सुखा निर्धना ये तु तान्‌ नमस्यामि यादव,यदुकुलभूषण! जो गुरुकुलमें रहकर भिक्षासे जीवन निर्वाह करते हैं, तपस्यासे जिनका शरीर दुर्बल हो गया है और जो कभी धन तथा सुखकी चिन्ता नहीं करते हैं उनको मैं प्रणाम करता हूँ

Transliteration

bhaikṣyacaryāsu niratāḥ kṛśā gurukulāśrayāḥ | niḥsukhā nirdhanā ye tu tān namasyāmi yādava yadukulabhūṣaṇa ||

Translation

Nārada said: “O Yādava, ornament of the Yadu line! I bow to those who, dwelling in the teacher’s household, are devoted to the discipline of living on alms; whose bodies have grown lean through austerity; and who remain without concern for wealth or worldly comfort.”

Word by Word

भैक्ष्यचर्यासुin the practice of living on alms

निरताःengaged, devoted

कृशाःemaciated, lean

गुरुकुलाश्रयाःdwelling in/depending on the teacher's household

निःसुखाःwithout comforts/happiness

निर्धनाःpoor, without wealth

येwho

तुbut/indeed

तान्them

नमस्यामिI bow to, I salute

यादवO Yādava

यदुकुलभूषणO ornament of the Yadu lineage

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Yādava (Kṛṣṇa)

Yadu-kula (Yadu dynasty)

Gurukula

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True worth lies in disciplined living and freedom from craving: students who endure austerity in the gurukula, live on alms, and do not chase wealth or comfort are held up as exemplary and worthy of reverence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada addresses Kṛṣṇa (as Yādava, glory of the Yadu line) and offers salutations to a class of ideal gurukula-dwelling students/ascetics, describing their austere lifestyle and inner detachment.