Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 23

The Deliverance of King Nṛga and the Warning Against Taking Brāhmaṇa Property

Devanagari script

पूर्वं त्वमशुभं भुङ्‍क्ष उताहो नृपते शुभम् । नान्तं दानस्य धर्मस्य पश्ये लोकस्य भास्वत: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

pūrvaṁ tvam aśubhaṁ bhuṅkṣa utāho nṛpate śubham nāntaṁ dānasya dharmasya paśye lokasya bhāsvataḥ

Translation

[阎摩罗阇说：] 亲爱的国王，你愿先受罪业之果，还是先享福德之报？我看不见你所行布施与正法的尽头；因此你在光辉天界的享受也似无穷无尽。

Synonyms

• pūrvam: first
• pūrvam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) used as temporal ‘first’

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• aśubham: inauspicious (result/evil)
• aśubham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• bhuṅkṣa: experience (enjoy/suffer)
• bhuṅkṣa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (भुज्) (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यम), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada; √bhuj ‘to enjoy/experience’

• uta: or/and then
• uta: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uta (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• aho: indeed / else
• aho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aho (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), exclamatory/alternative marker in context

• nṛpate: O king
• nṛpate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• śubham: auspicious (result/good)
• śubham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• antam: end/limit
• antam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dānasya: of charity
• dānasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• dharmasya: of righteousness
• dharmasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• paśye: I see
• paśye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश्) (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st person (उत्तम), Singular, Parasmaipada; √dṛś ‘to see’

• lokasya: of the world
• lokasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bhāsvataḥ: shining/splendid
• bhāsvataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāsvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; adjective qualifying ‘loka’

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Nṛpati (the King addressed)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the results of charity (dāna)?

This verse highlights that the dharma (religious merit) produced by charity can be so vast that its limit is difficult to perceive—implying profound, long-reaching auspicious results.

Why did Krishna speak about auspiciousness and misfortune to the king here?

In the Syamantaka-jewel narrative, Kṛṣṇa points the listener toward karmic causality—how one’s past actions yield present fortune or suffering—and emphasizes charity as a powerful source of merit.

How can I apply the Bhagavatam’s teaching on dāna in modern life?

Practice regular, sincere giving—supporting devotees, temples, spiritual education, and those in need—while keeping the intention pure, seeing charity as dharma that refines the heart.