FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.10.6

नूनं स्वार्थपरो लोको न वेद परसङ्कटम् । यदि वेद न याचेत नेति नाह यदीश्वर: ॥ ६ ॥
nūnaṁ svārtha-paro loko
[noonam svaartha-paro loko]
na veda para-saṅkaṭam
[na veda para-sankatam]
yadi veda na yāceta
[yadi veda na yaacheta]
neti nāha yad īśvaraḥ
[neti naaha yad eeshvarah]
Word-for-word
nūnam — certainly sva-artha-paraḥ — interested only in sense gratification in this life or the next lokaḥ — materialistic people in general na — not veda — know para-saṅkaṭam — the pain of others yadi — if veda — know na — not yāceta — would ask na — no iti — thus na āha — does not say yat — since īśvaraḥ — able to give charity.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nūnaṁ svārtha-paro loko
nūnam
certainly
sva-artha-paraḥ
interested only in sense gratification in this life or the next
lokaḥ
materialistic people in general
na veda para-saṅkaṭam
na
not
veda
know
para-saṅkaṭam
the pain of others
yadi veda na yāceta
yadi
if
veda
know
na
not
yāceta
would ask
neti nāha yad īśvaraḥ
na
no
iti
thus
na āha
does not say
yat
since
īśvaraḥ
able to give charity.
Those who are too self-interested beg something from others, not knowing of others’ pain. But if the beggar knew the difficulty of the giver, he would not ask for anything. Similarly, he who is able to give charity does not know the beggar’s difficulty, for otherwise he would not refuse to give the beggar anything he might want as charity.
Purport

This verse describes two people — one who gives charity and one who begs for it. A beggar should not ask charity from a person who is in difficulty. Similarly, one who is able to give charity should not deny a beggar. These are the moral instructions of the śāstra. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita says, san-nimitte varaṁ tyāgo vināśe niyate sati: everything within this material world will be destroyed, and therefore one should use everything for good purposes. If one is advanced in knowledge, he must always be prepared to sacrifice anything for a better cause. At the present moment the entire world is in a dangerous position under the spell of a godless civilization. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement needs many exalted, learned persons who will sacrifice their lives to revive God consciousness throughout the world. We therefore invite all men and women advanced in knowledge to join the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and sacrifice their lives for the great cause of reviving the God consciousness of human society.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Selfish people do not know the pain of others. If the requester knew others’ pain, he would not ask, and if the donor knew others’ pain he would not refuse to give, since he is capable of giving. The sage speaks part of the verse. “Selfish people do not know the pain of others. If the requester knew others’ pain, he would not ask.” The devatās speak the other part of the verse. “Selfish people do not know the pain of others. If the donor knew others’ pain he would not refuse to give.” Thus the verse has two meanings. Those who request and have attachment to the enjoyment of Svarga do not know the suffering they cause to the person (by taking his bones) from whom they ask. If they knew, from good intelligence as devatās, they would not ask. Since you do not have intelligence you are not real devatās, but are equivalent to animals such as tigers. Hearing what the sage said, the devatās then replied. The donor who is selfish and attached to the happiness of long life and possession of a body with senses, does not know the suffering of the requester, caused by attacks of the fierce enemy. If he knew, since he should have intelligence and knowledge as a sage, then he would not say “I will not give,” since he is are capable of giving. Since you lack discrimination, you are not a real sage. Because you are filled with lamentation and illusion, you are equivalent to a cow.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The selfish ask without knowing the giver's difficulty; the giver doesn't know what he gains. Charity transcends accounting; both sides are blind to its real weight.
Reflection Questions
  • Have I asked for something without imagining what it cost?
  • Have I underestimated what I gained by giving?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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