Shloka 53

Devanagari script

प्रीयमाणा नरा यत्र प्रयच्छेयुरयाचिता: । स्वस्थचित्तो वसेत्‌ तत्र कृतकृत्य इवात्मवान्‌,जहाँके लोग प्रसन्नतापूर्वक बिना माँगे ही भिक्षा देते हों, वहाँ मनको वशमें करनेवाला पुरुष कृतकृत्यकी भाँति स्वस्थचित्त होकर निवास करे

Transliteration

prīyamāṇā narā yatra prayaccheyur ayācitāḥ | svasthacitto vaset tatra kṛtakṛtya ivātmavān ||

Translation

Nārada said: In a place where people, being pleased, give alms even without being asked, a self-controlled man should dwell there with a tranquil mind, living as though his duties were already fulfilled—steady and self-possessed.

Word by Word

प्रीयमाणाःbeing pleased, delighted

नराःmen, people

यत्रwhere

प्रयच्छेयुःwould give, should give

अयाचिताःunasked (alms), without being requested

स्वस्थचित्तःwith a calm/steady mind

वसेत्should dwell, should live

तत्रthere

कृतकृत्यःone who has accomplished what is to be done

इवas if, like

आत्मवान्self-controlled, possessing self

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

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?

A renunciant or disciplined seeker should choose a supportive environment where alms are offered willingly and unasked, and then live there with inner calm and self-mastery, free from anxiety and dependence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is giving practical guidance on the conduct and residence of a self-controlled person (especially one living on alms), emphasizing non-demanding dependence and mental equanimity.