Shloka 17

Brāhmaṇa-pūjā, Haviḥ-dāna, and the Vāsudeva–Pṛthivī Saṃvāda

Chapter 34

Devanagari script

भैक्ष्यचर्यासु निरता: कृशा गुरुकुलाश्रया: । निः:सुखा निर्धना ये तु तान्‌ नमस्यामि यादव

Transliteration

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

Translation

Dijo Nārada: «¡Oh Yādava, ornamento del linaje de Yadu! Me inclino ante quienes, morando en la casa del maestro, se entregan a la disciplina de vivir de limosnas; cuyos cuerpos se han vuelto enjutos por la austeridad; y que no se inquietan por la riqueza ni por el bienestar mundano.»

Word by Word

• भैक्ष्यचर्यासु: in the practice of living on alms
• भैक्ष्यचर्यासु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्यचर्या
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Plural

• निरताः: engaged, devoted
• निरताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कृशाः: emaciated, lean
• कृशाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• गुरुकुलाश्रयाः: dwelling in/depending on the teacher's household
• गुरुकुलाश्रयाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरुकुलाश्रय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• निःसुखाः: without comforts/happiness
• निःसुखाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःसुख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• निर्धनाः: poor, without wealth
• निर्धनाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्धन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ये: who
• ये: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नमस्यामि: I bow to, I salute
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् (धातु: नम्)
• Form: Present, Indicative, First, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यादव: O Yādava
• Type: Noun
• Root: यादव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यदुकुलभूषण: O ornament of the Yadu lineage
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदुकुलभूषण
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Yādava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Yadu-kula (Yadu dynasty)
• Gurukula

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.