Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 44
Chapter 19
दरिद्रो यस् त्व् असन्तुष्टः कृपणो यो 'जितेन्द्रियः ।
गुणेष्व् असक्त-धीर् ईशो गुण-सङ्गो विपर्ययः ॥
daridro yas tv asantuṣṭaḥ kṛpaṇo yo 'jitendriyaḥ / guṇeṣv asakta-dhīr īśo guṇa-saṅgo viparyayaḥ //
جو بےقناعت ہے وہی حقیقت میں غریب ہے؛ اور جس نے حواس کو نہیں جیتا وہی حقیقت میں بخیل ہے۔ حقیقی مالک وہ ہے جس کی عقل گُنوں میں غیر وابستہ ہو؛ اور گُنوں کی وابستگی اس کے برعکس—غلامی ہے۔
This verse continues the Bhāgavata’s re-education of worldly labels. Poverty is commonly measured by external lack, but Kṛṣṇa identifies the deeper poverty as chronic dissatisfaction (asantuṣṭaḥ). Even a wealthy person becomes inwardly "destitute" if the mind is never content, because endless craving produces anxiety, envy, and fear. Similarly, kṛpaṇa—"miser"—is not merely someone who hoards money. In Vedic thought, a miser is one who wastes the priceless human opportunity by living under the tyranny of uncontrolled senses (ajitendriyaḥ). Such a person cannot invest life in dharma and bhakti; the senses constantly demand payment in the currency of time, energy, and conscience. Kṛṣṇa then defines īśa, "lord" or "master." Real mastery is inner sovereignty: asakta-dhīḥ—an intellect not bound to the guṇas (the modes of nature: sattva, rajas, tamas) and their temptations. When one can act responsibly without being dragged by passion, laziness, pride, or greed, one becomes genuinely "powerful" in the spiritual sense. Finally, He states that guṇa-saṅga—attachment to the modes and their objects—is viparyaya, the reversal of true lordship. Instead of the person controlling life, life controls the person. The Bhāgavata’s remedy is bhakti-yoga supported by self-discipline, contentment, and association with sādhus. By devotion to Kṛṣṇa, the heart becomes satisfied, the senses become purified, and one naturally rises above compulsive attachment.
FAQs
This verse teaches that real poverty is dissatisfaction—an uncontented mind makes one poor regardless of external wealth.
A kṛpaṇa is one who cannot conquer the senses and thus wastes the valuable human life chasing sense demands.
Practice contentment and sense-discipline, and cultivate bhakti so the mind becomes satisfied and less attached to material modes.