Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 35

The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings

Devanagari script

क्‍वचिन्मिथो व्यवहरन् यत्किञ्चिद्धनमुपयाति वित्तशाठ्येन ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

kvacin mitho vyavaharan yat kiñcid dhanam upayāti vitta-śāṭhyena.

Translation

有时众生彼此交易钱财，得些微利；但因财利中的欺诈，久而久之便生怨敌。纵然利润甚小，友谊也会断裂，彼此转为仇对。

Synonyms

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: क्रियाविशेषण (kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/देशवाचक

• मिथः: mutually/with one another
• मिथः: क्रियाविशेषण (reciprocal modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परस्परार्थक (reciprocal adverb)

• व्यवहरन्: transacting/dealing
• व्यवहरन्: कर्ता (kartā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अव + हृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः (present active participle); परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: कर्म (karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/accusative); एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (correlative)

• किञ्चित्: some (amount)
• किञ्चित्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (निपात)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite pronoun)

• धनम्: wealth/money
• धनम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• उपयाति: obtains/comes to (gets)
• उपयाति: क्रिया (kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + या (धातु)
• Form: लट् लकार (present); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• वित्त-शाठ्येन: by deceit regarding money
• वित्त-शाठ्येन: करण (karaṇa/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + शाठ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/instrumental); एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वित्ते शाठ्यम्/वित्त-सम्बन्धि शाठ्यम्)

Purport

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.8) :

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about earning money through cheating?

This verse states that people sometimes gain wealth through deceit in financial dealings, implying such gain is part of material entanglement and karmic bondage rather than true prosperity.

Who is speaking in Bhagavatam 5.14.35 and what is the context?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks while describing the conditioned soul’s journey through the ‘forest’ of material enjoyment, where one becomes entangled by worldly habits like dishonest transactions.

How can I apply Bhagavatam 5.14.35 in modern life and work?

Practice honest livelihood and transparent dealings; avoid profit gained through manipulation or fraud, and cultivate contentment and devotion so wealth does not become a cause of bondage.