FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.3.8

ममैवेयं मही कृत्स्‍ना न ते मूढेति वादिन: । स्पर्धमाना मिथो घ्नन्ति म्रियन्ते मत्कृते नृपा: ॥ ८ ॥
mamaiveyaṁ mahī kṛtsnā
[mamaiveyam mahee kritsnaa]
na te mūḍheti vādinaḥ
[na te moodheti vaadinah]
spardhamānā mitho ghnanti
[spardhamaanaa mitho ghnanti]
mriyante mat-kṛte nṛpāḥ
[mriyante mat-krite nripaah]
Word-for-word
mama — mine eva — indeed iyam — this mahī — land kṛtsnā — entire na — not te — yours mūḍha — you fool iti vādinaḥ — thus speaking spardhamānāḥ — quarreling mithaḥ — each other ghnanti — they kill mriyante — they are killed mat-kṛte — for my sake nṛpāḥ — kings.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mamaiveyaṁ mahī kṛtsnā
mama
mine
eva
indeed
na te mūḍheti vādinaḥ
spardhamānā mitho ghnanti
mriyante mat-kṛte nṛpāḥ
iyam
this
mahī
land
kṛtsnā
entire
na
not
te
yours
mūḍha
you fool
iti vādinaḥ
thus speaking
spardhamānāḥ
quarreling
mithaḥ
each other
ghnanti
they kill
mriyante
they are killed
mat-kṛte
for my sake
nṛpāḥ
kings.
“Political leaders challenge one another: ‘All this land is mine! It’s not yours, you fool!’ Thus they attack one another and die.
Purport

This verse describes with brilliant clarity the mundane political mentality that provokes innumerable conflicts in the world. For example, as we prepare this translation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, British and Argentine military forces are bitterly fighting over the tiny Falkland Islands.

The fact is that the Supreme Lord is the proprietor of all land. Of course, even in a God-conscious world political boundaries exist. But in such a God-conscious atmosphere political tensions are greatly eased, and people of all lands welcome each other and respect each other’s right to live in peace.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
"All this land is mine! It's not yours, you fool!' the kings say and, fighting, kill or get killed for the sake of possessing the earth.
Personal Guidance
Kings shout 'mine, not yours, fool!' and die in the fight. The Lord owns all land; political boundaries persist, but in God-consciousness they no longer bleed people. We can practice that consciousness now, even within today's borders.
Reflection Questions
  • Whom do I treat as 'fool' over what is really not mine anyway?
  • How might I act differently if I held my space as a trustee, not an owner?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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