Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.86.33
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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niṣkiñcanānām
—
of those who have no material possessions
Compound: niḥ (without) + kiñcana (anything). 'Owning nothing.' The Gauḍīya technical term for the renunciate bhakta — Caitanya Mahāprabhu praises niṣkiñcana-bhakti as the supreme adhikāra. Even Bahulāśva the king praises the niṣkiñcana sage as the true recipient of Kṛṣṇa.
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ātma-daḥ
—
giving Yourself
Compound: ātma (self) + da (giver). Kṛṣṇa gives His very ātmā. The Gauḍīya secret: Bhagavān is not merely a giver-of-things but a giver-of-Himself. Prema is when the gift and the giver are identical.
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śāntānām
—
who are peaceful
Genitive plural of śānta (peaceful, from √śam). The śānta-bhakta is one of the five categories in Gauḍīya rasa-theory. Bahulāśva places the recipient of ātma-dāna at the śānta-niṣkiñcana intersection — internal stillness combined with external poverty.
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visṛjet
—
would abandon
Optative of vi + √sṛj (to release, to abandon). The verse's rhetorical center — 'who would let go?' The optative is the form of asking what is possible; Bahulāśva implies it is not possible for anyone in knowledge.
How can he who knows in this way (evam vit) give up your lotus feet?
“It is also rare that you follow your devotees. But such a quality in you becomes hope for me.” Who would give up your feet with these qualities? They are the object of the pure devotees and have the quality of mercy. Those feet should not be given up, because sages give up everything in order to attain you since they are your devotees (śāntānām). They are devotees because they have studied the meaning of scriptures. You become controlled by them.
One can see you by bhakti alone, by your mercy. What can be said? Even those desiring liberation achieve it by your mercy alone. Nu indicates conjecture. If one is a human, would he give up your feet? You give liberation (ātmadaḥ), by revealing ātma-tattva, to persons who are without ahaṅkāra (niṣkiñcanānām) and without sickness (śānṭānām) because they are dedicated to jñāna (munīnām). Or you are affectionate to the devotee. You are controlled (ātmadaḥ) by those who give up everything for you (niṣkiḥycanānām), because their hearts are fixed in you alone (śāntānām), because they have studied the scriptures (munīṇām).
- What lesser offer am I considering when God is offering Himself?
- Where am I distracted from the unbeatable by lesser deals?
Who, knowing Kṛṣṇa's readiness to give Himself, would abandon His feet? The verse is rhetorical, but the question lingers — for most of us do walk away every day. Bahulāśva names the puzzle: the issue is not Bhagavān's reluctance, it is ours.
My note
Source: vedabase.io