Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 32
Chapter 19
को बन्धुर् उत किं गृहम् क आढ्यः को दरिद्रो वा ।
कृपणः कः क ईश्वरः एतान् प्रश्नान् मम ब्रूहि ।
विपरीतांश् च सत्-पते श्री-भगवान् उवाच ॥
ko bandhur uta kiṃ gṛham ka āḍhyaḥ ko daridro vā / kṛpaṇaḥ kaḥ ka īśvaraḥ etān praśnān mama brūhi / viparītāṃś ca sat-pate śrī-bhagavān uvāca //
Qui est le véritable ami, et qu’est-ce que le vrai foyer ? Qui est réellement riche, et qui est pauvre ? Qui est avare, et qui est le véritable maître ? Ô Seigneur des saints, explique-moi ces questions — et aussi leurs contraires. Alors le Seigneur Suprême parla.
Uddhava continues probing the Bhāgavata’s radical redefinition of human life. A ‘friend’ is not merely someone who supports our worldly identity, but one who helps us remember the Lord and progress toward freedom. A ‘home’ is not only a building or nation, but the shelter where consciousness becomes purified—ultimately the refuge of the Supreme (śaraṇāgati). Likewise, wealth and poverty are not measured only by possessions: one who has devotion, good character, and inner satisfaction is truly rich, while one who is restless with endless desire is spiritually poor even amid abundance. The ‘miser’ (kṛpaṇa) is classically described in Vedic literature as one who wastes the rare human form of life on temporary gains, refusing to invest life-energy in self-realization. The true ‘master’ (īśvara) is not merely a controller of others, but one who has mastery over the senses and mind, living under the supreme lordship of Bhagavān. By asking for the ‘opposites’ as well, Uddhava requests a complete map: what constitutes genuine virtue and its counterfeit. The final line—“Śrī Bhagavān said”—marks the transition from inquiry to Kṛṣṇa’s authoritative instruction, emphasizing that these definitions are to be received from divine wisdom, not social convention.
FAQs
This verse frames the definition: a true friend is the one who supports your spiritual good—helping you move toward God-consciousness rather than deeper attachment.
Because society measures success externally; Uddhava wants Kṛṣṇa’s spiritual criteria—whether one is rich in devotion and self-control or poor due to uncontrolled desire.
Cultivate inner wealth—contentment, discipline, and devotion—so that money and status become tools for dharma rather than sources of anxiety and bondage.