Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.21.33
वृथा मनोरथस्तस्य दूर: स्वर्ग: पतत्यध: ।
प्रतिश्रुतस्यादानेन योऽर्थिनं विप्रलम्भते ॥ ३३ ॥
vṛthā manorathas tasya
[vrithaa manorathas tasya]
dūraḥ svargaḥ pataty adhaḥ
[doorah svargah pataty adhah]
pratiśrutasyādānena
[pratishrutasyaadaanena]
yo ’rthinaṁ vipralambhate
[yo ’rthinam vipralambhate]
Word-for-word
vṛthā
—
without any good result
manorathaḥ
—
mental concoction
tasya
—
of him
dūraḥ
—
far away
svargaḥ
—
elevation to the higher planetary system
patati
—
falls down
adhaḥ
—
to a hellish condition of life
pratiśrutasya
—
things promised
adānena
—
being unable to give
yaḥ
—
anyone who
arthinam
—
a beggar
vipralambhate
—
cheats.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vṛthā manorathas tasya
vṛthā
without any good result
manorathaḥ
mental concoction
tasya
of him
dūraḥ svargaḥ pataty adhaḥ
dūraḥ
far away
svargaḥ
elevation to the higher planetary system
patati
falls down
adhaḥ
to a hellish condition of life
pratiśrutasyādānena
pratiśrutasya
things promised
adānena
being unable to give
yaḥ
anyone who
arthinam
a beggar
yo ’rthinaṁ vipralambhate
vipralambhate
cheats.
Far from being elevated to the heavenly planets or fulfilling one’s desire, one who does not properly give a beggar what he has promised falls down to a hellish condition of life.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Far from being elevated to the heavenly planets or fulfilling one's desire, one who does not properly give a beggar what he has promised falls down to a hellish condition of life.
The meaning is clear. However, seeing the results of the Lord’s words later, this verse has another meaning. Since you are my devotee, your desire to take the position of Indra is useless, since Svarga falls much below Vaikuṇṭha. Though now you will be situated in Sutala, you are more elevated that being in Svarga, since the pleasure of Sutala is not available in Svarga. You will especially (vi) and excellently (pra) attain (lambhate) me, the possessor of all four purusārthas (arthinam), by completely (ā) giving (danena) what you promised, since you offered everything-- body and soul--to me. This means that you will attain me as your door keeper because of your complete surrender.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
One who does not give the beggar what was promised falls to hellish life — far from heaven, far from desire-fulfillment. The cosmic accounting is severe. Broken promises to beggars cost more than we admit.
Reflection Questions
- Which broken promise to a small person of mine, scripturally, carries more weight than I thought?
- Where am I treating beggars' promises as forgettable when they are heavily weighted?
My note
Source: vedabase.io