FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.4.27

गृहेषु दारेषु सुतेषु बन्धुषु द्विपोत्तमस्यन्दनवाजिवस्तुषु । अक्षय्यरत्नाभरणाम्बरादि- ष्वनन्तकोशेष्वकरोदसन्मतिम् ॥ २७ ॥
gṛheṣu dāreṣu suteṣu bandhuṣu
[griheshu daareshu suteshu bandhushu]
dvipottama-syandana-vāji-vastuṣu
[dvipottama-syandana-vaaji-vastushu]
akṣayya-ratnābharaṇāmbarādiṣv
[akshayya-ratnaabharanaambaraadishv]
ananta-kośeṣv akarod asan-matim
[ananta-kosheshv akarod asan-matim]
gṛheṣu — in the homes dāreṣu — in wives suteṣu — in children bandhuṣu — in friends and relatives dvipa-uttama — in the best of powerful elephants syandana — in nice chariots vāji — in first-class horses vastuṣu — in all such things akṣayya — whose value never decreases ratna — in jewels ābharaṇa — in ornaments ambara-ādiṣu — in such dresses and ornaments ananta-kośeṣu — in an inexhaustible treasury akarot — accepted asat-matim — no attachment.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
gṛheṣu dāreṣu suteṣu bandhuṣu
gṛheṣu
in the homes
dāreṣu
in wives
suteṣu
in children
bandhuṣu
in friends and relatives
dvipottama-syandana-vāji-vastuṣu
dvipa-uttama
in the best of powerful elephants
syandana
in nice chariots
vāji
in first-class horses
vastuṣu
in all such things
akṣayya-ratnābharaṇāmbarādiṣv
akṣayya
whose value never decreases
ratna
in jewels
ābharaṇa
in ornaments
ambara-ādiṣu
in such dresses and ornaments
ananta-kośeṣv akarod asan-matim
ananta-kośeṣu
in an inexhaustible treasury
akarot
accepted
asat-matim
no attachment.
Mahārāja Ambarīṣa gave up all attachment to household affairs, wives, children, friends and relatives, to the best of powerful elephants, to beautiful chariots, carts, horses and inexhaustible jewels, and to ornaments, garments and an inexhaustible treasury. He gave up attachment to all of them, regarding them as temporary and material.

Anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayuñjataḥ. Material possessions can be accepted as far as they can be used in devotional service. Ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanam. Ānukūlyasya saṅkalpaḥ prātikūlyasya varjanam. In preaching, many things considered material are needed. A devotee should not have any attachment for such material involvements as house, wife, children, friends and cars. Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, for example, had all such things, but he was not attached to them. This is the effect of bhakti-yoga. Bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra ca ( Bhāg. 11.2.42 ). One who is advanced in devotional service has no attachment for material things for sense enjoyment, but for preaching, to spread the glories of the Lord, he accepts such things without attachment. Anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayuñjataḥ. Everything can be used to the extent that it can be engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s service.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, considering them temporary, gave up all attachment to houses, wives, children, friends and relatives, to the best elephants, to chariots, to horses, to inexhaustible jewels, to ornaments, to garments and to an inexhaustible treasury.
Related verses
Ambarīṣa let go of attachment to family, elephants, chariots, jewels, treasury — possessing without being possessed. Things can be used in Kṛṣṇa's service when we have stopped needing them for our self-image.
Reflection Questions
  • Which possession defines me more than I would admit, and how would I act if it vanished tomorrow?
  • What would shift if I held everything I own as 'on loan for service'?
📝 My note

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