Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.89.28
धनदारात्मजापृक्ता यत्र शोचन्ति ब्राह्मणा: ।
ते वै राजन्यवेषेण नटा जीवन्त्यसुम्भरा: ॥ २८ ॥
dhana-dārātmajāpṛktā
[dhana-daaraatmajaapriktaa]
yatra śocanti brāhmaṇāḥ
[yatra shochanti braahmanaah]
te vai rājanya-veṣeṇa
[te vai raajanya-veshena]
naṭā jīvanty asum-bharāḥ
[nataa jeevanty asum-bharaah]
Word-for-word
dhana
—
from wealth
dāra
—
wives
ātmaja
—
and children
apṛktāḥ
—
separated
yatra
—
in which (situation)
śocanti
—
lament
brāhmaṇāḥ
—
brāhmaṇas
te
—
they
vai
—
indeed
rājanya - veṣeṇa
—
disguised as kings
naṭāḥ
—
actors
jīvanti
—
they live
asum - bharāḥ
—
earning their own livelihood .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
dhana-dārātmajāpṛktā
dhana
from wealth
dāra
wives
ātmaja
and children
apṛktāḥ
separated
yatra śocanti brāhmaṇāḥ
yatra
in which (situation)
śocanti
lament
brāhmaṇāḥ
brāhmaṇas
te vai rājanya-veṣeṇa
te
they
vai
indeed
rājanya - veṣeṇa
disguised as kings
naṭāḥ
actors
naṭā jīvanty asum-bharāḥ
jīvanti
they live
asum - bharāḥ
earning their own livelihood .
Important Words
-
dhana-dāra-ātmaja-apṛktāḥ
—
deprived of wealth, wife, and children
Compound: dhana (wealth) + dāra (wife) + ātmaja (children) + apṛkta (deprived). The triple loss is the standard śāstric measure of a failed kingdom — wealth, wife, child. The brāhmaṇa here has lost only children, but the principle applies.
-
rājanya-veṣeṇa
—
in the dress of a kṣatriya
Compound: rājanya (royal) + veṣa (costume). The pejorative crystallizes — costume without function. Gauḍīyas use this compound widely to critique those who wear devotional dress without devotional substance.
-
naṭāḥ
—
actors
Naṭa is the technical term for a stage-actor. Arjuna calls such kings 'mere actors playing kings for a meal.' The compound asum-bharāḥ — 'those who fill their breath, i.e., earn a living' — sharpens the insult.
“The rulers of a kingdom in which brāhmaṇas lament over lost wealth, wives and children are merely imposters playing the role of kings just to earn their livelihood.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
"The rulers of a kingdom in which brāhmaṇas lament over lost wealth, wives and children are merely imposters playing the role of kings just to earn their livelihood.
Commentary
Hear the proof of the low quality of ksatriya present here. "When brahmanas lament because of loss of wealth, wife or children, where the ksatriya lives, that ksatriya is only an imposter."
Śrīdhara Svāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
He supposes the worst situation. Wealth, wives and children are in order of importance, protection of children being most important. Vai means well known or they are just (vai) imposters, living to maintain themselves.
Related values & verses
Related values
Adambhitva (Non-hypocrisy / Authenticity)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Tejas (Inner Radiance / Vigour)Discriminative Wisdom
Related verses
BG 5.18
BG 8.4
BG 14.12
BG 14.1
BG 12.1
BG 18.37
BG 11.1
BG 3.3
SB 1.2BG 12.3
BG 4.8
BG 15.9
BG 6.35
Concepts
Jiva
Personal Guidance
Rulers who let brāhmaṇas lament over lost wives and children are mere imposters playing king. Authority that does not protect the vulnerable is a fraud.
Reflection Questions
- Where am I playing 'king' in a role where I have not actually protected anyone?
- What about my position requires more responsibility than I have been carrying?
Analogy
Arjuna sharpens the indictment: rulers under whom brāhmaṇas grieve lost property, wife or child are merely actors — naṭas — playing kings for a livelihood. In one verse he both honors the brāhmaṇa and shames the unidentified king. Note: he has not yet realized that any of this concerns him.
My note
Source: vedabase.io