1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 19: Lord Vāmanadeva Begs Charity from Bali Mahārāja
8.19.408.19.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.19.41

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukrācāryasince 8.19.30inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पराग् रिक्तमपूर्णं वा अक्षरं यत् तदोमिति ।

यत् किञ्चिदोमिति ब्रूयात् तेन रिच्येत वै पुमान् ।

भिक्षवे सर्वम्ॐ कुर्वन्नालं कामेन चात्मने ॥ ४१ ॥

parāg riktam apūrṇaṁ vā

akṣaraṁ yat tad om iti

yat kiñcid om iti brūyāt

tena ricyeta vai pumān

bhikṣave sarvam oṁ kurvan

nālaṁ kāmena cātmane

Translation

The utterance of the word om signifies separation from one’s monetary assets. In other words, by uttering this word one becomes free from attachment to money because his money is taken away from him. To be without money is not very satisfactory, for in that position one cannot fulfill one’s desires. In other words, by using the word om one becomes poverty-stricken. Especially when one gives charity to a poor man or beggar, one remains unfulfilled in self-realization and in sense gratification.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Money for the Supreme

  1. 1

    Śukrācārya could not appreciate Mahārāja Bali’s promise to give everything to Vāmanadeva. He offered Vedic evidence against giving everything to a poor beggar.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that om is meant for oṁ tat sat, the Absolute Truth. Freedom from attachment to money means spending it for the purpose of the Supreme.

  3. 3

    The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement helps the poor through both food and spiritual enlightenment. Money is best used to support such devotional service, helping people reform their character and advance toward returning back home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Rather, when a poor man comes for charity one should untruthfully say, “Whatever I have I have given you.
  • The tendency of modern civilization is to give money in charity to the poor.
  • One should not give everything to the beggars among the poor.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Public loss and humiliation → Total surrender. An apparent external defeat conceals a devotional triumph.

Chapters 19–23 of Canto 8: Vāmana tests Bali; Bali offers everything. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 19: Lord Vāmanadeva Begs Charity from Bali Mahārāja

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He explained that in subduing others, in joking, in responding to danger, in acting for the welfare of others, and so on, one could refuse to fulfill one’s promise, and there would be no fault. By this philosophy, Śukrācārya tried to dissuade Bali Mahārāja from giving land to Lord Vāmanadeva.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. parākthat which separates
  2. riktamthat which makes one free from attachment
  3. apūrṇamthat which is insufficient
  4. vāeither
  5. akṣaramthis syllable
  6. yatthat
  7. tatwhich
  8. omoṁkāra
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.19

    In this verse: “attachment”, “sense gratification”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 8.19

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 8.19

    In this verse: “separation”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could my use of money support advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness rather than attachment?

Practice

Set aside a small amount today to support a Kṛṣṇa consciousness center that provides food and spiritual teaching.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse Money for the SupremeThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 8.19.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories