FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.20.10

मनस्विन: कारुणिकस्य शोभनं यदर्थिकामोपनयेन दुर्गति: । कुत: पुनर्ब्रह्मविदां भवाद‍ृशां ततो वटोरस्य ददामि वाञ्छितम् ॥ १० ॥
manasvinaḥ kāruṇikasya śobhanaṁ
[manasvinah kaarunikasya shobhanam]
yad arthi-kāmopanayena durgatiḥ
[yad arthi-kaamopanayena durgatih]
kutaḥ punar brahma-vidāṁ bhavādṛśāṁ
[kutah punar brahma-vidaam bhavaadrishaam]
tato vaṭor asya dadāmi vāñchitam
[tato vator asya dadaami vaanchitam]
Word-for-word
manasvinaḥ — of persons who are greatly munificent kāruṇikasya — of persons celebrated as very merciful śobhanam — very auspicious yat — that arthi — of persons in need of money kāma-upanayena — by satisfying durgatiḥ — becoming poverty-stricken kutaḥ — what punaḥ — again (is to be said) brahma-vidām — of persons well versed in transcendental science (brahma-vidyā) bhavādṛśām — like your good self tataḥ — therefore vaṭoḥ — of the brahmacārī asya — of this Vāmanadeva dadāmi — I shall give vāñchitam — whatever He wants.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
manasvinaḥ kāruṇikasya śobhanaṁ
manasvinaḥ
of persons who are greatly munificent
kāruṇikasya
of persons celebrated as very merciful
śobhanam
very auspicious
yad arthi-kāmopanayena durgatiḥ
yat
that
arthi
of persons in need of money
kāma-upanayena
by satisfying
durgatiḥ
becoming poverty-stricken
kutaḥ punar brahma-vidāṁ bhavādṛśāṁ
kutaḥ
what
punaḥ
again (is to be said)
brahma-vidām
of persons well versed in transcendental science (brahma-vidyā)
bhavādṛśām
like your good self
tato vaṭor asya dadāmi vāñchitam
tataḥ
therefore
vaṭoḥ
of the brahmacārī
asya
of this Vāmanadeva
dadāmi
I shall give
vāñchitam
whatever He wants.
By giving charity, a benevolent and merciful person undoubtedly becomes even more auspicious, especially when he gives charity to a person like your good self. Under the circumstances, I must give this little brahmacārī whatever charity He wants from me.
Purport

If one accepts a poverty-stricken position because of losing money in business, gambling, prostitution or intoxication, no one will praise him, but if one becomes poverty-stricken by giving all of his possessions in charity, he becomes adored all over the world. Aside from this, if a benevolent and merciful person exhibits his pride in becoming poverty-stricken by giving his possessions in charity for good causes, his poverty is a welcome and auspicious sign of a great personality. Bali Mahārāja decided that even though he would become poverty-stricken by giving everything to Vāmanadeva, this is what he would prefer.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The glory of the generous, merciful giver is to become poor by fulfilling the desire of a requestor, what to speak of fulfilling the desires of a person like you possessing spiritual knowledge. Therefore I will give whatever the brahmacārī desires. “Then you will become poor.” The glory for the person generous in giving (manisvinaḥ) is becoming poor by satisfying a person who makes a request. Durgati means poor. Becoming poor by fulfilling the desire of a person like you is even more glorious.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
A merciful person becomes more auspicious by giving, especially to one like you. I must give this little brahmacārī whatever He wants. Self-imposed poverty through charity is celebrated, unlike poverty from gambling. Cause matters.
Reflection Questions
  • Have I considered that my chosen poverty in some area, given dharmically, might be celebrated?
  • Where do I fear poverty without distinguishing dharmic from adharmic poverty?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 20