Shloka 12
The Forest of Material Existence: Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa
क्वचित्क्वचित्क्षीणधनस्तु तस्मिन् शय्यासनस्थानविहारहीन: । याचन् परादप्रतिलब्धकाम: पारक्यदृष्टिर्लभतेऽवमानम् ॥ १२ ॥
kvacit kvacit kṣīṇa-dhanas tu tasmin śayyāsana-sthāna-vihāra-hīnaḥ yācan parād apratilabdha-kāmaḥ pārakya-dṛṣṭir labhate ’vamānam
在物质生存的林道上，有时人财尽而贫，因而无家可归，无床可卧，无处可坐，也无正当的家庭享受。于是他向他人乞求钱财；若乞求不能遂愿，便想借用或偷取他人财物。如此觊觎他物，终在社会中受辱。
The principles of beg, borrow or steal are very appropriate in this material world. When one is in want, he begs, borrows or steals. If begging is unsuccessful, he borrows. If he cannot pay, he steals, and when he is caught, he is insulted. This is the law of material existence. No one can live here very honestly; therefore by trickery, cheating, begging, borrowing or stealing, one tries to satisfy his senses. Thus no one in this material world is living peacefully.
FAQs
This verse explains that when wealth and comforts vanish, a person who begs to satisfy desires is often viewed with suspicion and receives disrespect—showing the degrading nature of dependence rooted in material craving.
He is illustrating the bondage of the conditioned soul: desire-driven life leads to loss of dignity and peace, prompting the listener toward renunciation and shelter in devotion rather than worldly support.
Reduce desire-based living, avoid compromising integrity for comfort, and cultivate steady spiritual practice and service—so self-worth and stability do not depend on fluctuating wealth or others’ approval.