SB 10.47.7

SB 10.47.7

Devanagari

नि:स्वं त्यजन्ति गणिका अकल्पं नृपतिं प्रजा: । अधीतविद्या आचार्यमृत्विजो दत्तदक्षिणम् ॥ ७ ॥

Verse text

niḥsvaṁ tyajanti gaṇikā akalpaṁ nṛpatiṁ prajāḥ adhīta-vidyā ācāryam ṛtvijo datta-dakṣiṇam

Synonyms

niḥsvam one without any assets ; tyajanti abandon ; gaṇikāḥ prostitutes ; akalpam incompetent ; nṛ patim — a king ; prajaḥ citizens ; adhīta vidyāḥ — those who have completed their education ; ācāryam the teacher ; ṛtvijaḥ priests ; datta (the sacrificer) who has given ; dakṣiṇam their remuneration .

Translation

Prostitutes abandon a penniless man, subjects an incompetent king, students their teacher once they have finished their education, and priests a man who has remunerated them for a sacrifice.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Prostitutes abandon a penniless man, subjects an incompetent king, students their teacher once they have finished their education, and priests a man who has remunerated them for a sacrifice. KB 10.47.7 “It is psychologically very natural that a prostitute does not care for her paramour as soon as he loses his money. Similarly, when the citizens find that a government is incapable of giving them full protection, they leave the country. A student, after finishing his education, gives up his relationship with the teacher and the school. A priest, after taking his reward from the worshiper, gives him up.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

If a relationship between two persons is based prominently on dharma it is lasting, whereas if it is predominated by local custom, it is temporary. This point is made by giving many examples. Prostitutes give up a penniless man and citizens reject a king who cannot protect them (akalpam). Sacrificial priests give up a man who has paid them.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

Niḥsvam is a person who had money, but spend it. Citizens give up a king who cannot give protection (akalpam). Priests give up the sponsor once he has given the donation.