FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.14.34

पात्रं त्वत्र निरुक्तं वै कविभि: पात्रवित्तमै: । हरिरेवैक उर्वीश यन्मयं वै चराचरम् ॥ ३४ ॥
pātraṁ tv atra niruktaṁ vai
[paatram tv atra niruktam vai]
kavibhiḥ pātra-vittamaiḥ
[kavibhih paatra-vittamaih]
harir evaika urvīśa
[harir evaika urveesha]
yan-mayaṁ vai carācaram
[yan-mayam vai charaacharam]
pātram — the true person to whom charity must be given tu — but atra — in the world niruktam — decided vai — indeed kavibhiḥ — by learned scholars pātra-vittamaiḥ — who are expert in finding the actual person to whom charity must be given hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead eva — indeed ekaḥ — only one urvī-īśa — O King of the earth yat-mayam — in whom everything is resting vai — from whom everything is coming cara-acaram — all that is moving or nonmoving within this universe.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
pātraṁ tv atra niruktaṁ vai
pātram
the true person to whom charity must be given
tu
but
atra
in the world
niruktam
decided
vai
indeed
kavibhiḥ pātra-vittamaiḥ
kavibhiḥ
by learned scholars
pātra-vittamaiḥ
who are expert in finding the actual person to whom charity must be given
harir evaika urvīśa
hariḥ
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
eva
indeed
ekaḥ
only one
urvī-īśa
O King of the earth
yan-mayaṁ vai carācaram
yat-mayam
in whom everything is resting
vai
from whom everything is coming
cara-acaram
all that is moving or nonmoving within this universe.
O King of the earth, it has been decided by expert, learned scholars that only the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, in whom all that is moving or nonmoving within this universe is resting and from whom everything is coming, is the best person to whom everything must be given.

Whenever we perform some religious act in terms of dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa, we must perform it according to the time, place and person ( kāla, deśa, pātra ). Nārada Muni has already described the deśa (place) and kāla (time). The kāla has been described in verses twenty through twenty-four, beginning with the words ayane viṣuve kuryād vyatīpāte dina-kṣaye. And the places for giving charity or performing ritualistic ceremonies have been described in verses thirty through thirty-three, beginning with sarāṁsi puṣkarādīni kṣetrāṇy arhāśritāny uta. Now, to whom everything must be given is decided in this verse. Harir evaika urvīśa yan-mayaṁ vai carācaram. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the root of everything, and therefore He is the best pātra, or person, to whom everything must be given. In Bhagavad-gītā (5.29) it is said:

bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati

If one wants to enjoy real peace and prosperity, he should give everything to Kṛṣṇa, who is the real enjoyer, real friend and real proprietor. It is therefore said:

yathā taror mūla-niṣecanena tṛpyanti tat-skandha-bhujopaśākhāḥ prāṇopahārāc ca yathendriyāṇāṁ tathaiva sarvārhaṇam acyutejyā

( Bhāg. 4.31.14 )

By worshiping or satisfying Acyuta, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, one can satisfy everyone, just as one can water the branches, leaves and flowers of a tree simply by watering its root or as one satisfies all the senses of the body by giving food to the stomach. Therefore, a devotee simply offers everything to the Supreme Personality of Godhead to receive the best results of charity, religious performances, sense gratification and even liberation ( dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa ).

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O King of the earth! It has been decided by learned scholars that only the Supreme Lord, in whom all that is moving or nonmoving within this universe is resting, is the best person to whom everything should be given. To whom should offerings be given for progressing in dharma? In order to speak about offerings directly to the Supreme Lord, to the Vaiṣṇavas, brāhmaṇas and all living entities, first the recipient of offerings is explained.
Related verses
Only Kṛṣṇa, in whom all moving and nonmoving things rest, is the proper recipient of all offering. When giving, place, time, and recipient must align. The right offering to the right Person is what makes a gift spiritually potent.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose recommendation are you currently following for where your charity should land?
  • Have you ever offered something directly to the Lord, with no intermediary, and what changed?
📝 My note

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