FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.19.17

नान्यत् ते कामये राजन्वदान्याज्जगदीश्वरात् । नैन: प्राप्नोति वै विद्वान्यावदर्थप्रतिग्रह: ॥ १७ ॥
nānyat te kāmaye rājan
[naanyat te kaamaye raajan]
vadānyāj jagad-īśvarāt
[vadaanyaaj jagad-eeshvaraat]
nainaḥ prāpnoti vai vidvān
[nainah praapnoti vai vidvaan]
yāvad-artha-pratigrahaḥ
[yaavad-artha-pratigrahah]
na — not anyat — anything else te — from you kāmaye — I beg rājan — O King vadānyāt — who are so munificent jagat-īśvarāt — who are the king of the entire universe na — not enaḥ — distress prāpnoti — gets vai — indeed vidvān — one who is learned yāvat-artha — as much as one needs pratigrahaḥ — taking charity from others.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nānyat te kāmaye rājan
na
not
anyat
anything else
te
from you
kāmaye
I beg
rājan
O King
vadānyāj jagad-īśvarāt
vadānyāt
who are so munificent
jagat-īśvarāt
who are the king of the entire universe
nainaḥ prāpnoti vai vidvān
na
not
enaḥ
distress
prāpnoti
gets
vai
indeed
vidvān
one who is learned
yāvad-artha-pratigrahaḥ
yāvat-artha
as much as one needs
pratigrahaḥ
taking charity from others.
O King, controller of the entire universe, although you are very munificent and are able to give Me as much land as I want, I do not want anything from you that is unnecessary. If a learned brāhmaṇa takes charity from others only according to his needs, he does not become entangled in sinful activities.

A brāhmaṇa or sannyāsī is qualified to ask charity from others, but if he takes more than necessary he is punishable. No one can use more of the Supreme Lord’s property than necessary. Lord Vāmanadeva indirectly indicated to Bali Mahārāja that he was occupying more land than he needed. In the material world, all distresses are due to extravagance. One acquires money extravagantly and also spends it extravagantly. Such activities are sinful. All property belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and all living beings, who are sons of the Supreme Lord, have the right to use the Supreme Father’s property, but one cannot take more than necessary. This principle should especially be followed by brāhmaṇas and sannyāsīs who live at the cost of others. Thus Vāmanadeva was an ideal beggar, for He asked only three paces of land. Of course, there is a difference between His footsteps and those of an ordinary human being. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, by His inconceivable prowess, can occupy the entire universe, including the upper, lower and middle planetary systems, by the unlimited measurement of His footsteps.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O King! I do not want anything else from you, though you are the controller of the entire universe and are most generous. A learned person, taking only according to his needs, does not become entangled in sin. The learned person accepts only what he needs. The words tāvat eva (only that much) should be understood. Another meaning is “I, a learned person, taking everything that you own, will not incur sin.”
I do not want anything unnecessary; a learned brāhmaṇa takes only what he needs and avoids entanglement. The Lord models restraint even in receiving. Want only what is needed; excess generates sin.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I taking more than I need, mistaking excess for blessing?
  • What would 'only what is necessary' look like in my next month of choices?
📝 My note

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