FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.81.38

इत्थं व्यवसितो बुद्ध्या भक्तोऽतीव जनार्दने । विषयान् जायया त्यक्ष्यन्बुभुजे नातिलम्पट: ॥ ३८ ॥
itthaṁ vyavasito buddhyā
[ittham vyavasito buddhyaa]
bhakto ’tīva janārdane
[bhakto ’teeva janaardane]
viṣayān jāyayā tyakṣyan
[vishayaan jaayayaa tyakshyan]
bubhuje nāti-lampaṭaḥ
[bubhuje naati-lampatah]
ittham — in this way vyavasitaḥ — fixing his determination buddhyā — with intelligence bhaktaḥ — devoted atīva — absolutely janārdane — to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of all living beings viṣayān — the objects of sense gratification jāyayā — with his wife tyakṣyan — wanting to renounce bubhuje — he enjoyed na — not ati - lampaṭaḥ — very avaricious .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
itthaṁ vyavasito buddhyā
ittham
in this way
vyavasitaḥ
fixing his determination
buddhyā
with intelligence
bhakto ’tīva janārdane
bhaktaḥ
devoted
viṣayān jāyayā tyakṣyan
atīva
absolutely
janārdane
to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of all living beings
viṣayān
the objects of sense gratification
jāyayā
with his wife
tyakṣyan
wanting to renounce
bubhuje nāti-lampaṭaḥ
bubhuje
he enjoyed
na
not
ati - lampaṭaḥ
very avaricious .
  • vyavasitaḥ buddhyā — fixing his determination with intelligence
    Past participle of vi + ava + √sā (to determine, resolve) + instrumental of buddhi. The verse marks Sudāmā's stable resolve. His enjoyment of wealth is not drift but conscious choice — buddhi-yukta enjoyment, the Gītā's ideal.
  • atīva — absolutely devoted
    atīva (extremely) + bhakta. The Bhāgavatam stamps Sudāmā's category once and for all: even with wealth, atīva-bhakta. Gauḍīyas read this as the test passed — wealth did not change the rank.
  • janārdane — to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of all living beings
    Locative of Janārdana — one who is petitioned by people (jana) for protection. A name for Kṛṣṇa as universal refuge. The verse names Him by the title most relevant to a bhakta enjoying His gift while staying devoted to Him.
  • na ati-lampaṭaḥ — not very avaricious
    na (not) + ati (very) + lampaṭa (greedy, lustful). The bhakta's relationship to wealth is properly limited. Gauḍīya yukta-vairāgya: enjoy what comes, do not chase what does not come, do not become it.
  • viṣayān — he enjoyed sense objects with the idea of renouncing them
    viṣaya (sense object) + tyakṣyan (future participle of √tyaj, intending to abandon) + bubhuje (perfect of √bhuj, enjoyed). The exact Gauḍīya posture: nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe yuktaṁ vairāgyam ucyate (Rūpa Gosvāmī). Enjoy in connection to Kṛṣṇa, with renunciation as the orientation.
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus firmly fixing his determination by means of his spiritual intelligence, Sudāmā remained absolutely devoted to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of all living beings. Free from avarice, he enjoyed, together with his wife, the sense pleasures that had been bestowed upon him, always with the idea of eventually renouncing all sense gratification.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Thus firmly fixing his determination by means of his spiritual intelligence, Sudāmā remained absolutely devoted to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of all living beings. Free from avarice, he enjoyed, together with his wife, the sense pleasures that had been bestowed upon him, always with the idea of eventually renouncing all sense gratification.
Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

By careful consideration (buddhyā he was fixed in determination) to Kṛṣṇa, who was most affectionate to the devotees, who asked (ardana) his devotee (jana) “What have you brought me?” The devotee with intense (atīva) love of the Lord, one having prema, enjoyed while giving up sense objects in order to please his wife. Doing otherwise would be a fault in dharma. He enjoyed while being unattached to those objects (nāti-lampataḥ).

Related values
Sthitaprajna (Steady Wisdom)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Discriminative WisdomShanti (Peace / Tranquility)Abhaya (Fearlessness)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)
Related verses
Sudāmā remained devoted to Kṛṣṇa and enjoyed the bestowed pleasures with his wife — always with the intention to eventually renounce all sense gratification. Enjoyment under intention to renounce is itself a form of detachment.
Reflection Questions
  • Could I hold pleasures lightly, with intention of eventual renunciation?
  • How does that intention transform how I enjoy?

A house that has received an unexpected harvest and a tenant who eats his fill but already keeps one hand toward the door — Sudāmā enjoys what was given, but lives with renunciation packed at the threshold. Bhakti uses what is given; it does not become what it uses.

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