Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.64.43
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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brāhmaṇa - arthaḥ
—
the property of a brāhmaṇa
Brāhmaṇa + artha (property, wealth). The verse pairs this with apahṛtaḥ (taken away, from apa-√hṛ). Apahṛta is the technical term — even an unintended apahāra functions as apahāra.
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pātayati adhaḥ
—
causes to fall down
Causative of √pat (to fall) + adhaḥ (downward). The very verb whose imperative form (pata, v. 24) Yamarāja used. The chapter binds its grammar tight: the same root that condemned Nṛga is now the universal law.
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ajānantam api
—
even one unaware
A-jānant (not knowing) + api (even). The closing of the ignorance-loophole. Modern moral intuition often softens unintended wrong; the Bhāgavata, in this verse, refuses to.
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nṛgam brāhmaṇa - gauḥ iva
—
as the brāhmaṇa's cow did to Nṛga
Nṛga + brāhmaṇa + go (cow) + iva (as). The chapter's narrative-bookend: the example is named in the doctrinal verse. Gauḍīya pedagogy: doctrine is always anchored to a story; the law without its illustration is not the Bhāgavata's style.
The Lord here demonstrates that His instructions are not theoretical but practical, as seen concretely in the case of Nṛga Mahārāja.
This is not an exaggeration to instill fear. There is direct proof as stated in this verse.
That the cow was taken from the brāhmaṇa was not known to Nṛga, but was understood by the people listening to the story.
In all cases one should have devotion to brāhmaṇas. One should not steal from them at any time, anything by any means. This is the summary. Stolen wealth (arthaḥ) causes the stealer to fall, even he does so unknowingly, what to speak of doing it in knowledge. That is certain (hi). The example is this person (enam) Nṛga. You have directly seen it.
The chapter's whole arc compressed into a single śloka: brāhmaṇa-property taken, even unknowingly, drops the taker — as Nṛga the lizard, who stands as the verse's living footnote. The story is the proof; the proof is now turned into law.
My note
Source: vedabase.io