SB 10.84.40 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.84.40

त्वं त्वद्य मुक्तो द्वाभ्यां वै ऋषिपित्रोर्महामते । यज्ञैर्देवर्णमुन्मुच्य निर्ऋणोऽशरणो भव ॥ ४० ॥

tvaṁ tv adya mukto dvābhyāṁ vai

[tvam tv adya mukto dvaabhyaam vai]

ṛṣi-pitror mahā-mate

[rishi-pitror mahaa-mate]

yajñair devarṇam unmucya

[yajnair devarnam unmuchya]

nirṛṇo ’śaraṇo bhava

[nirrino ’sharano bhava]

Word-for-word

tvam — you tu — but adya — now muktaḥ — freed dvābhyām — from two (of the debts) vai — certainly ṛṣi — to the sages pitroḥ — and to the forefathers mahā - mate — O generous one yajñaiḥ — by Vedic sacrifices deva — to the demigods ṛṇam — from the debt unmucya — relieving yourself nirṛṇaḥ — without debt aśaraṇaḥ — without material shelter bhava — become .

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

tvaṁ tv adya mukto dvābhyāṁ vai

tvam

you

but

adya

now

muktaḥ

freed

dvābhyām

from two (of the debts)

vai

certainly

ṛṣi-pitror mahā-mate

ṛṣi

to the sages

pitroḥ

and to the forefathers

mahā - mate

O generous one

yajñair devarṇam unmucya

yajñaiḥ

by Vedic sacrifices

deva

to the demigods

ṛṇam

from the debt

unmucya

relieving yourself

nirṛṇo ’śaraṇo bhava

nirṛṇaḥ

without debt

aśaraṇaḥ

without material shelter

bhava

become .

Important Words

mahā-mate — O generous one
mahā (great) + mate (minded). Address of respect. Gauḍīyas note that this is the sages' acknowledgment that Vasudeva already has the qualifications for the next step — they speak to him as one who is ripe.
nirṛṇaḥ — without debt
nir- (without) + ṛṇa (debt). Cleared. Gauḍīyas read this state as the prerequisite for aśaraṇa — only the debt-free man can renounce material shelter without making a mockery of it.
aśaraṇaḥ — without material shelter
a- (not) + śaraṇa (shelter). The state of having no other refuge but Bhagavān. Gauḍīyas read this as a direct preview of śaraṇāgati: 'ananyāś cintayanto mām' (BG 9.22) — non-other refuge is the prayojana of every other limb.
unmucya — relieving yourself
Gerund of ud + √muc (to release upward). To release oneself out of. Gauḍīyas treat this active-voice release as paired with passive grace — one releases by yajña, but final freedom comes from Bhagavān's hand.

But you, O magnanimous soul, are already free from two of your debts — those to the sages and the forefathers. Now absolve yourself of your debt to the demigods by executing Vedic sacrifices, and in this way free yourself completely of debt and renounce all material shelter.

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

But you, O magnanimous soul, are already free from two of your debts—those to the sages and the forefathers. Now absolve yourself of your debt to the demigods by executing Vedic sacrifices, and in this way free yourself completely of debt and renounce all material shelter.

Commentary

You are freed from two debts by producing offspring and study. By performing sacrifice you will become free from debt to the devatas . Then renounce the house (asarana bhava).

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya

Commentary

The word tu indicates Vasudeva in particular. You are certainly (vai) free from debts to Pitṛs and sages. Become completely free (un—mucya) of the three debts and become houseless. Renounce for the sake of Viṣṇu.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya

Commentary

Related values & verses

Related values

Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Discriminative WisdomAbhaya (Fearlessness)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)

Concepts

Yajna

Personal Guidance

Vasudeva has paid two of three debts; the third — to the demigods — remains, satisfied by sacrifice. Spiritual accounting matters; obligations have specific remedies, not vague intentions.

Reflection Questions

What specific debt of mine has a specific remedy I have been avoiding?
Where do vague good intentions stand in for concrete acts of repayment?

Analogy

The sages do Vasudeva's accounting on his behalf: two debts are already cleared (the ṛṣis paid by his lifelong association with them, the forefathers by his sons including Kṛṣṇa Himself). Only the debt to the devas remains — and they prescribe yajña as the closing entry. Once closed, become aśaraṇa — without material shelter — and surrender entirely to Bhagavān.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io