FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.4.2

भ्रातरोऽभाङ्क्त किं मह्यं भजाम पितरं तव । त्वां ममार्यास्तताभाङ्‍क्षुर्मा पुत्रक तदाद‍ृथा: ॥ २ ॥
bhrātaro ’bhāṅkta kiṁ mahyaṁ
[bhraataro ’bhaankta kim mahyam]
bhajāma pitaraṁ tava
[bhajaama pitaram tava]
tvāṁ mamāryās tatābhāṅkṣur
[tvaam mamaaryaas tataabhaankshur]
mā putraka tad ādṛthāḥ
[maa putraka tad aadrithaah]
bhrātaraḥ — O my brothers abhāṅkta — have you given as the share of our father’s property kim — what mahyam — unto me bhajāma — we allot pitaram — the father himself tava — as your share tvām — you mama — unto me āryāḥ — my elder brothers tata — O my father abhāṅkṣuḥ — have given the share mā — do not putraka — O my dear son tat — to this statement ādṛthāḥ — give any importance.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
bhrātaro ’bhāṅkta kiṁ mahyaṁ
bhrātaraḥ
O my brothers
bhajāma pitaraṁ tava
tvāṁ mamāryās tatābhāṅkṣur
abhāṅkta
have you given as the share of our father’s property
kim
what
mā putraka tad ādṛthāḥ
mahyam
unto me
bhajāma
we allot
pitaram
the father himself
tava
as your share
tvām
you
mama
unto me
āryāḥ
my elder brothers
tata
O my father
abhāṅkṣuḥ
have given the share
mā
do not
putraka
O my dear son
tat
to this statement
ādṛthāḥ
give any importance.
Nābhāga inquired, “My dear brothers, what have you given to me as my share of our father’s property?” His elder brothers answered, “We have kept our father as your share.” But when Nābhāga went to his father and said, “My dear father, my elder brothers have given you as my share of property,” the father replied, “My dear son, do not rely upon their cheating words. I am not your property.”
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Nābhāga inquired, "My dear brothers, what have you given to me as my share of our father's property?" His elder brothers answered, "We have kept our father as your share." But when Nābhāga went to his father and said, "My dear father, my elder brothers have given you as my share of property," the father replied, "My dear son, do not believe their words." This verse describes their conversation. Nābhāga asked, “O brothers! What have you allotted to me as my share of the property? The brothers said, “Hearing that you renounced, we did not leave you a share. Now however, we have your father. We will give you your father as your share. Please take your father who earns all wealth.” He went to the father and said, “O father! My elder brothers have given you to me as my share of wealth. You have become my share.” Another version has kim mamāryās tatābhāṅkṣuḥ: “O father, why have they given you to me, saying that they owned you. Why did my brothers give you to me?” The father said, “O son for whom I have affection! Do not believe their words. I am not a property that can be enjoyed.”
Nābhāga's brothers cleverly say 'you can have father as your share' — a half-trick, half-jest. His father warns him not to take the words at face value, but to listen for what they leave unsaid.
Reflection Questions
  • When have I taken sibling-style banter as a settlement rather than a deflection?
  • Who in my family deserves to be heard for what they really mean, not what they technically said?
📝 My note

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