Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 41

Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti

Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties

Devanagari script

प्रतिग्रहं मन्यमानस्तपस्तेजोयशोनुदम् । अन्याभ्यामेव जीवेत शिलैर्वा दोषद‍ृक् तयो: ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

pratigrahaṁ manyamānas tapas-tejo-yaśo-nudam anyābhyām eva jīveta śilair vā doṣa-dṛk tayoḥ

Translation

ព្រាហ្មណ៍ដែលយល់ថា ការទទួលទានពីអ្នកដទៃ នឹងបំផ្លាញតបៈ អំណាចវិញ្ញាណ និងកេរ្តិ៍ឈ្មោះ គួររស់ដោយមុខរបរព្រាហ្មណ៍ពីរផ្សេងទៀត គឺបង្រៀនវេដ និងប្រតិបត្តិយជ្ញៈ។ បើគាត់មើលថា ទាំងពីរនោះក៏ប៉ះពាល់ដល់ស្ថានភាពវិញ្ញាណដែរ នោះគាត់គួរប្រមូលគ្រាប់ធញ្ញជាតិដែលគេបោះចោលនៅស្រែ និងទីផ្សារ ហើយរស់ដោយមិនពឹងផ្អែកលើអ្នកដទៃ។

Synonyms

• pratigraham: acceptance of gifts
• pratigraham: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• manyamānaḥ: considering (it)
• manyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta; Śānac-pratyaya present middle participle (वर्तमानकाले शानच्), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ātmanepada sense ‘considering’

• tapas-tejo-yaśaḥ-nudam: that which diminishes austerity, vigor, and fame
• tapas-tejo-yaśaḥ-nudam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक) + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक) + nuda (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from √nud)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa chain (समाहार/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-भाव): ‘tapas-tejo-yaśāṁ nudam’ = diminishing austerity, vigor, fame; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies pratigraham

• anyābhyām: by the other two (ways)
• anyābhyām: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘by the other two (means)’

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• jīveta: should live
• jīveta: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jīv (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• śilaiḥ: by gleaning (grains from fields/stone-like hard gleanings); by śilā-collection
• śilaiḥ: Karana (करण/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक)

• doṣa-dṛk: one who sees the fault (in that)
• doṣa-dṛk: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: doṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘doṣān paśyati’); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifies implied subject

• tayoḥ: of those two
• tayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); refers to the two means (anyābhyām / śilaiḥ etc.)

Purport

A pure devotee of the Lord should always remember that the Supreme Personality of Godhead will personally take care of him. As the Lord states in Bhagavad-gītā (9.22) :

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about accepting gifts (pratigraha) for a renunciant?

This verse states that accepting gifts can undermine austerity, spiritual potency, and reputation; therefore a renunciant should avoid dependence on gifts and live by simpler, less entangling means.

Why did Krishna say this to Uddhava in Canto 11 Chapter 17?

In the Uddhava Gita, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on varṇāśrama-dharma, including the conduct of a sannyāsī; here He emphasizes non-dependence and purity by discouraging gift-acceptance that can create obligation and attachment.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Keep spiritual practice free from hidden obligations: simplify needs, avoid compromising integrity for favors, and choose honest, low-attachment support systems that protect one’s character and focus.