FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.72.26

जीवता ब्राह्मणार्थाय को न्वर्थ: क्षत्रबन्धुना । देहेन पतमानेन नेहता विपुलं यश: ॥ २६ ॥
jīvatā brāhmaṇārthāya
[jeevataa braahmanaarthaaya]
ko nv arthaḥ kṣatra-bandhunā
[ko nv arthah kshatra-bandhunaa]
dehena patamānena
[dehena patamaanena]
nehatā vipulaṁ yaśaḥ
[nehataa vipulam yashah]
jīvatā — who is alive brāhmaṇa - arthāya — for the benefit of brāhmaṇas kaḥ — what nu — at all arthaḥ — use kṣatra - bandhunā — with a fallen kṣatriya dehena — by his body patamānena — about to fall na īhatā — who is not endeavoring vipulam — for extensive yaśaḥ — glory .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
jīvatā brāhmaṇārthāya
jīvatā
who is alive
brāhmaṇa - arthāya
for the benefit of brāhmaṇas
kaḥ
what
nu
at all
arthaḥ
use
ko nv arthaḥ kṣatra-bandhunā
kṣatra - bandhunā
with a fallen kṣatriya
dehena patamānena
dehena
by his body
patamānena
about to fall
na īhatā
who is not endeavoring
nehatā vipulaṁ yaśaḥ
vipulam
for extensive
yaśaḥ
glory .
  • brāhmaṇa-arthāya — for the benefit of brāhmaṇas
    Compound dative. Artha here is 'sake, benefit'. The kṣatriya body's highest expenditure is brāhmaṇa-arthe — for the support of the brahmaṇical order. Gauḍīya extension: ultimately for bhāgavata-arthe, for the Lord's devotees.
  • kṣatra-bandhunā — with a fallen kṣatriya
    Compound instrumental. Kṣatra-bandhu — literally 'mere relative of a kṣatriya', a term of mild contempt for one born kṣatriya but failing the dharma. Jarāsandha sets up the term so he can disclaim it himself.
  • patamānena — about to fall
    Present participle instrumental. The body is falling — present tense, perpetual. Use the falling thing to climb the unfallen.
  • vipulam-yaśaḥ — extensive glory
    Compound. Vipula — broad, far-reaching. Yaśas earned for brāhmaṇa-artha spreads broadly across the worlds; yaśas earned for personal aggrandisement does not.
What is the use of an unqualified kṣatriya who goes on living but fails to gain everlasting glory by working with his perishable body for the benefit of brāhmaṇas?
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
What is the use of an unqualified kṣatriya who goes on living but fails to gain everlasting glory by working with his perishable body for the benefit of brāhmaṇas?
Commentary

What is the use of a low ksatriya living who does not desire fame of giving to brahmanas with his perishable (patamanena) body. There is no use for him.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

“They will ask for your life, not your kingdom.” This body can become successful by fate. If we do not use it properly it is useless. I should use this body for benefiting brāhmaṇas even if they have come only in the dress of brāhmaṇas. What is the use of living as a person born in a kṣatriya family (kṣastriya-bandhunā) who does not endeavor for fame using this temporary body, for serving brāhmaṇas? Or kṣatriya-bandhunā can mean “by a kṣatriya fallen because of not serving brāhmaṇas.”

Related values
Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Discriminative WisdomAsteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Titiksha (Forbearance / Endurance)Udyama (Industriousness / Effort)Dhriti (Resilience / Steadfastness / Fortitude)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)Dhairya (Composure / Courage)Dana (Charity / Generosity)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva
An unqualified kṣatriya who lives without gaining lasting glory for brāhmaṇas wastes his post. Every role has its highest expression; living below that is the real failure.
Reflection Questions
  • What is the highest expression of my present role, and am I living it?
  • Where have I shrunk from what my position actually demands?

A merchant who hoards gold but never builds a temple with it dies clutching coins he cannot take. A kṣatriya who keeps his body but never spends it for brāhmaṇa-artha is the same merchant in armour. The body is currency only if spent.

📝 My note

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