FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.72.27

इत्युदारमति: प्राह कृष्णार्जुनवृकोदरान् । हे विप्रा व्रियतां कामो ददाम्यात्मशिरोऽपि व: ॥ २७ ॥
ity udāra-matiḥ prāha
[ity udaara-matih praaha]
kṛṣṇārjuna-vṛkodarān
[krishnaarjuna-vrikodaraan]
he viprā vriyatāṁ kāmo
[he vipraa vriyataam kaamo]
dadāmy ātma-śiro ’pi vaḥ
[dadaamy aatma-shiro ’pi vah]
iti — thus udāra — generous matiḥ — whose mentality prāha — said kṛṣṇa - arjuna - vṛkodarān — to Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna and Bhīma he vipraḥ — O learned brāhmaṇas vriyatām — let it be chosen kāmaḥ — what you desire dadāmi — I will give ātma — my own śiraḥ — head api — even vaḥ — to you .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ity udāra-matiḥ prāha
iti
thus
udāra
generous
matiḥ
whose mentality
prāha
said
kṛṣṇārjuna-vṛkodarān
kṛṣṇa - arjuna - vṛkodarān
to Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna and Bhīma
he viprā vriyatāṁ kāmo
he vipraḥ
O learned brāhmaṇas
vriyatām
let it be chosen
kāmaḥ
what you desire
dadāmy ātma-śiro ’pi vaḥ
dadāmi
I will give
ātma
my own
śiraḥ
head
api
even
vaḥ
to you .
  • udāra-matiḥ — of generous mentality
    Compound. Udāra — magnanimous. The narrator marks Jarāsandha's generosity at the exact moment it becomes the cause of his death. The trait is not condemned; it is honoured even as it kills him.
  • kṛṣṇa-arjuna-vṛkodarān — to Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna and Bhīma
    Compound accusative. All three named together — the trio that will end him. He still believes them brāhmaṇas; the narrator already names them as themselves.
  • vriyatām — let it be chosen
    Passive imperative from vṛ. 'Whatever you choose, let it be chosen.' The mood is formal, almost liturgical — like a yajamāna's invitation to ṛtviks.
  • ātma-śiraḥ — my own head
    Compound accusative. The standard kṣatriya hyperbole — 'even my own head'. Spoken to Bhagavān, hyperbole becomes prophecy: in this chapter the head will indeed fall, though as part of the whole body torn apart.
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus making up his mind, the generous Jarāsandha addressed Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna and Bhīma: “O learned brāhmaṇas, choose whatever you wish. I will give it to you, even if it is my own head.”
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus making up his mind, the generous Jarāsandha addressed Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna and Bhīma: "O learned brāhmaṇas, choose whatever you wish. I will give it to you, even if it is my own head."
Commentary

Deciding in this way ( iti), he spoke.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Having a charitable mind or having a great mind (udāra-matiḥ), he spoke excellently (pra-āha), with a smiling face. Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna and Bhīma are mentioned in order of cleverness (from greater to lesser), for Yudhiṣṭhira identifies their positions in Mahābhārata. Arjunaḥ kṛṣṇam anvetu bhīmo anvetu dhanañjayam: let Arjuna follow Kṛṣṇa, and let Bhīma follow Arjuna. (Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva). He addressed them as brāhmaṇas, with his previous understanding in mind, and as mockery.

Related values
Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Discriminative WisdomAbhaya (Fearlessness)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)
Related verses
'O learned brāhmaṇas, choose whatever you wish — even my own head.' Generosity given without reservation invites destiny to take us seriously.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I quietly reserving conditions in my generosity?
  • What 'whatever you wish' could I genuinely mean today?

A king signs the contract with full theatre — 'even my head if you wish.' The audience hears bravado; the three brāhmaṇas hear permission already granted. The script has tipped from negotiation to ritual.

📝 My note

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