SB 10.5.28 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

पुंसस्त्रिवर्गो विहित: सुहृदो ह्यनुभावित: । न तेषु क्लिश्यमानेषु त्रिवर्गोऽर्थाय कल्पते ॥ २८ ॥

Verse text

puṁsas tri-vargo vihitaḥ suhṛdo hy anubhāvitaḥ na teṣu kliśyamāneṣu tri-vargo ’rthāya kalpate

Synonyms

puṁsaḥ — of a person ; tri — vargaḥ — the three aims of life (religion, economic development and sense gratification) ; vihitaḥ — enjoined according to Vedic ritualistic ceremonies ; suhṛdaḥ — toward relatives and friends ; hi — indeed ; anubhāvitaḥ — when they are properly in line ; na — not ; teṣu — in them ; kliśyamāneṣu — if they are actually in any difficulty ; tri — vargaḥ — these three aims of life ; arthāya — for any purpose ; kalpate — does become so .

Translation

When one’s friends and relatives are properly situated, one’s religion, economic development and sense gratification, as described in the Vedic literatures, are beneficial. Otherwise, if one’s friends and relatives are in distress, these three cannot offer any happiness.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

When one's friends and relatives are properly situated, one's religion, economic development and sense gratification, as described in the Vedic literatures, are beneficial. Otherwise, if one's friends and relatives are in distress, these three cannot offer any happiness. KB 10.5.28 Vasudeva continued to say that the maintenance of religious principles, economic development and the satisfactory execution of meeting the demands of the senses depend on cooperation among relatives, nations and all humanity. Therefore, it is everyone’s duty to see that his fellow citizens and the cows are not put into difficulty. One should see to the peace and comfort of his fellow man and the animals. The development of religious principles, economic development and sense gratification can then be achieved without difficulty. Vasudeva expressed his sorrow due to not being able to give protection to his own sons born of Devakī. He was thinking that religious principles, economic development and the satisfaction of his senses were therefore all lost.

Purport

Vasudeva regretfully informed Nanda Mahārāja that although he had his wife and children, he could not properly discharge his duty of maintaining them and was therefore unhappy.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

To express that fact that his household life is failure, Vasudeva speaks this verse. "For a jiva (pumsa) the three vargas are prescribed by scripture for the purpose of satisfying wife and children (suhrdah). In my case, by being separated from wife and child and causing them suffering, not raising my son, the three vargas are useless. Thus my household life has been a failure."

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

By protecting a friend’s son, you have achieved great success. Though I have wealth, at this time I am not successful because of suffering for my son and family. Pumṣaḥ indicates mankind in general and also a heroic man. The three vargas of mankind must be endowed with wife and son according to scriptures. When wife and son are suffering, there can be no happiness from the three vargas only suffering, for dharma is not properly respected. Smṛti says vṛddhau ca mātāpitarau sādhvī bhāryā sutaḥ śiśuḥ apy akārya-śataṁ kṛtvā bhartavyā manur abravīt Manu has said that the elders, mother, father, the chaste wife, sons and babies should be protected even if one commits hundreds of offenses to do so. Padma Purāṇa