FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.13.33

राजतश्चौरत: शत्रो: स्वजनात्पशुपक्षित: । अर्थिभ्य: कालत: स्वस्मान्नित्यं प्राणार्थवद्भ‍यम् ॥ ३३ ॥
rājataś caurataḥ śatroḥ
[raajatash chauratah shatroh]
sva-janāt paśu-pakṣitaḥ
[sva-janaat pashu-pakshitah]
arthibhyaḥ kālataḥ svasmān
[arthibhyah kaalatah svasmaan]
nityaṁ prāṇārthavad bhayam
[nityam praanaarthavad bhayam]
Word-for-word
rājataḥ — from the government caurataḥ — from thieves and rogues śatroḥ — from enemies sva-janāt — from relatives paśu-pakṣitaḥ — from animals and birds arthibhyaḥ — from beggars and persons seeking charity kālataḥ — from the time factor svasmāt — as well as from one’s self nityam — always prāṇa-artha-vat — for one who has life or money bhayam — fear.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
rājataś caurataḥ śatroḥ
rājataḥ
from the government
caurataḥ
from thieves and rogues
śatroḥ
from enemies
sva-janāt paśu-pakṣitaḥ
sva-janāt
from relatives
paśu-pakṣitaḥ
from animals and birds
arthibhyaḥ kālataḥ svasmān
arthibhyaḥ
from beggars and persons seeking charity
kālataḥ
from the time factor
svasmāt
as well as from one’s self
nityaṁ prāṇārthavad bhayam
nityam
always
prāṇa-artha-vat
for one who has life or money
bhayam
fear.
Those who are considered materially powerful and rich are always full of anxieties because of governmental laws, thieves and rogues, enemies, family members, animals, birds, persons seeking charity, the inevitable time factor and even their own selves. Thus they are invariably afraid.
Purport

The word svasmāt means “from one’s self.” Because of attachment for money, the richest person is even afraid of himself. He fears that he may have locked his money in an unsafe manner or might have committed some mistake. Aside from the government and its income tax and aside from thieves, even a rich man’s own relatives are always thinking of how to take advantage of him and take away his money. Sometimes these relatives are described as sva- janaka-dasyu, which means “rogues and thieves in the guise of relatives.” Therefore, there is no need to accumulate wealth or unnecessarily endeavor for more and more money. The real business of life is to ask “Who am I?” and to understand one’s self. One should understand the position of the living entity in this material world and understand how to return home, back to Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Those how are attached to wealth and to their physical strength to be used for enjoyment have constant fear of government, thieves, enemies, family members, animals, birds, persons seeking charity, time and even their own selves. Svasmāt (from oneself) means one can destroy oneself by forgetfulness, enjoyment or giving away one’s wealth in charity. Those who are attached to their wealth and their physical strength (prāṇa) to be used for enjoying have fear from government, thieves etc. One should take only as much as is needed for existence. kāmasya nendriya-prītir lābho jīveta yāvatā | jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ || For one who desires apavarga, sense pleasure attained from enjoying sense objects is not the goal as long as one lives. The goal of life is inquiry into the highest truth. What is accomplished by prescribed duties is not the goal. SB 1.2.10
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The rich are afraid of government, thieves, enemies, family, beggars, time — even of themselves. Material security is a phantom. Real shelter must rest somewhere money cannot reach.
Reflection Questions
  • Which sources of fear continue to operate in you regardless of how much you accumulate?
  • Where might genuine shelter actually be found?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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