Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 3

Lord Rāmacandra’s Charity, Sītā’s Departure, and the Lord’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

आचार्याय ददौ शेषां यावती भूस्तदन्तरा । मन्यमान इदं कृत्‍स्‍नं ब्राह्मणोऽर्हति नि:स्पृह: ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

ācāryāya dadau śeṣāṁ yāvatī bhūs tad-antarā manyamāna idaṁ kṛtsnaṁ brāhmaṇo ’rhati niḥspṛhaḥ

Translation

ତାପରେ ‘ନିଷ୍କାମ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନେ ହିଁ ସମଗ୍ର ଜଗତର ଯୋଗ୍ୟ ଅଧିକାରୀ’ ବୋଲି ଭାବି, ପୂର୍ବ-ପଶ୍ଚିମ-ଉତ୍ତର-ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଯେତେ ଭୂମି ଶେଷ ଥିଲା, ସେ ସବୁ ଆଚାର୍ୟଙ୍କୁ ଦାନ କଲେ।

Synonyms

• आचार्याय: to the teacher/priest
• आचार्याय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; Dative singular (4th)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect, 3rd person singular, active

• शेषाम्: the remaining (land)
• शेषाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd), agreeing with भूः (understood/next)

• यावती: as much as, whatever extent
• यावती: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

• भूः: land, earth
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); demonstrative ‘that’ as first member

• अन्तरा: within/between
• अन्तरा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तरा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, स्थानवाचक; adverb/preposition ‘in between/within’

• मन्यमानः: thinking, considering
• मन्यमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्यमान (कृदन्त, √मन् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय (आत्मनेपद) वर्तमानकृदन्त; Nominative singular (1st)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Pronoun; Accusative singular (2nd)

• कृत्स्नम्: entire, whole
• कृत्स्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd), agreeing with इदम्

• ब्राह्मणः: a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

• अर्हति: deserves, is worthy of
• अर्हति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present, 3rd person singular, active

• निःस्पृहः: free from desire
• निःस्पृहः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःस्पृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

Characters & Entities

• ācārya (spiritual preceptor)
• niḥspṛha brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about giving charity to the ācārya?

This verse praises offering one’s remaining wealth—here, land—to the ācārya, affirming that a truly selfless, desireless brāhmaṇa is a worthy recipient.

Why is a niḥspṛha (desireless) brāhmaṇa said to deserve the whole earth?

Because freedom from selfish desire removes exploitation; such a person can accept resources without greed and use them in a dharmic, God-centered way.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Support genuine teachers and spiritual institutions with integrity, and cultivate niḥspṛhatā—giving without expecting recognition or return.