Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 10

Dadhīci’s Supreme Charity and the Opening of Indra’s War with Vṛtrāsura

Devanagari script

अहो दैन्यमहो कष्टं पारक्यै: क्षणभङ्गुरै: । यन्नोपकुर्यादस्वार्थैर्मर्त्य: स्वज्ञातिविग्रहै: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

aho dainyam aho kaṣṭaṁ pārakyaiḥ kṣaṇa-bhaṅguraiḥ yan nopakuryād asvārthair martyaḥ sva-jñāti-vigrahaiḥ

Translation

ہائے، کیسی ذلت اور کیسا کرب! پرائے سے اور لمحہ بھر میں ٹوٹ جانے والے سہاروں میں الجھ کر اگر انسان اپنے جسم، مال اور عزیزوں کو بےغرض خدمتِ خلق میں نہ لگائے تو یہی چیزیں مصیبت و غم کا سبب بنتی ہیں۔

Synonyms

• अहो: alas!
• अहो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय/खेदसूचक-अव्यय (interjection)

• दैन्यम्: wretchedness
• दैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; as exclaimed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक

• अहो: alas!
• अहो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: विस्मय/खेदसूचक-अव्यय (interjection)

• कष्टम्: misery, hardship
• कष्टम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; as exclaimed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• पारक्यैः: with strangers/others’ (people)
• पारक्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; ‘with/through’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पारक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• क्षणभङ्गुरैः: with momentary, perishable (ones)
• क्षणभङ्गुरैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; qualifier of पारक्यैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षण-भङ्गुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्षणेन भङ्गुरः)

• यत्: that (fact) that
• यत्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause; ‘because’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (correlative ‘that/which’)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• उपकुर्यात्: should help
• उपकुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अस्वार्थैः: selfless (ones)
• अस्वार्थैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-स्वार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (स्वार्थो न यस्य)

• मर्त्यः: a mortal
• मर्त्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• स्वज्ञातिविग्रहैः: with one’s own relatives’ bodies (kinsmen)
• स्वज्ञातिविग्रहैः: Karana (करण/Instrument; ‘with one’s own kinsmen-bodies’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-ज्ञाति-विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य ज्ञातयः विग्रहाः/देहाः)

Purport

Similar advice is also given in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.22.35) :

Characters & Entities

• Vṛtrāsura

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about serving outsiders while neglecting one’s own people?

This verse criticizes the misplaced priority of helping temporary outsiders while failing to support one’s own selfless well-wishers and relatives.

Why did Vṛtrāsura say this in Canto 6 Chapter 10?

In the midst of the battle narrative, Vṛtrāsura reflects on human folly and misplaced attachment, expressing moral insight even while confronting the devas.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Value and care for genuine well-wishers and those who support you selflessly, and don’t sacrifice lasting duties for fleeting social approval or temporary alliances.