Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 18

Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti

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

Devanagari script

आस्तिक्यं दाननिष्ठा च अदम्भो ब्रह्मसेवनम् । अतुष्टिरर्थोपचयैर्वैश्यप्रकृतयस्त्विमा: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

āstikyaṁ dāna-niṣṭhā ca adambho brahma-sevanam atuṣṭir arthopacayair vaiśya-prakṛtayas tv imāḥ

Translation

ବୈଦିକ ଧର୍ମରେ ଆସ୍ଥା, ଦାନରେ ନିଷ୍ଠା, ଅଦମ୍ଭ, ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣସେବା, ଏବଂ ଧନସଞ୍ଚୟ ବଢ଼ାଇବା ପାଇଁ ନିରନ୍ତର ଆକାଂକ୍ଷା—ଏହିମାନେ ବୈଶ୍ୟଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱାଭାବିକ ଗୁଣ।

Synonyms

• आस्तिक्यम्: faith, theism
• आस्तिक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-nominative (विशेष्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्तिक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• दान-निष्ठा: steadfastness in charity
• दान-निष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-nominative (विशेष्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'दानस्य निष्ठा' (steadfastness in giving)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अदम्भः: absence of hypocrisy
• अदम्भः: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-nominative (विशेष्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; abstract/quality noun

• ब्रह्म-सेवनम्: service to Brahmins / sacred service
• ब्रह्म-सेवनम्: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-nominative (विशेष्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'ब्रह्मणः/ब्रह्मणां सेवनम्' (service of Brahman/Brahmins)

• अतुष्टिः: dissatisfaction
• अतुष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-nominative (विशेष्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अर्थ-उपचयैः: by accumulations of wealth
• अर्थ-उपचयैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + उपचय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'अर्थस्य उपचयः' (accumulation of wealth)

• वैश्य-प्रकृतयः: the qualities/natures of the Vaishya
• वैश्य-प्रकृतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'वैश्यस्य प्रकृतयः'

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• इमाः: these
• इमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of 'प्रकृतयः'
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

Purport

Atuṣṭir arthopacayaiḥ indicates that a vaiśya is never satisfied with any amount of wealth and always wants to accumulate more. On the other hand, he is dāna-niṣṭha, or dedicated to charitable work; brahmasevī, always engaged in assisting the brāhmaṇas; and adambha, free from hypocrisy. This is due to āstikyam, or complete faith in the Vedic way of life, and confidence that one will be rewarded or punished in the next life for one’s present activities. The fervent desire of the vaiśyas to accumulate wealth is not the same as ordinary material greed, because it is purified and tempered by the superior qualities mentioned in this verse.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Uddhava

FAQs

What are the qualities of a vaiśya according to Srimad Bhagavatam?

Bhagavatam 11.17.18 lists faith (āstikya), steadiness in charity, lack of hypocrisy, service to brāhmaṇas, and not being complacent in mere wealth-accumulation as the natural qualities of a vaiśya.

Why does Krishna teach varṇāśrama-dharma to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava on practical dharma and devotion for human society; this verse specifically describes the innate virtues that purify economic life when aligned with Vedic values.

How can this verse be applied in modern life for business and wealth?

Keep faith and integrity, make charity a disciplined habit, avoid pretension, support genuine spiritual education and saintly persons, and treat wealth as a responsibility for service—not as the final goal.