SB 10.64.43 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

ब्राह्मणार्थो ह्यपहृतो हर्तारं पातयत्यध: । अजानन्तमपि ह्येनं नृगं ब्राह्मणगौरिव ॥ ४३ ॥

Verse text

brāhmaṇārtho hy apahṛto hartāraṁ pātayaty adhaḥ ajānantam api hy enaṁ nṛgaṁ brāhmaṇa-gaur iva

Synonyms

brāhmaṇa — of a brāhmaṇa ; arthaḥ — the property ; hi — indeed ; apahṛtaḥ — taken away ; hartāram — the taker ; pātayati — causes to fall ; adhaḥ — down ; ajānantam — unaware ; api — even ; hi — indeed ; enam — this person ; nṛgam — King Nṛga ; brāhmaṇa — of the brāhmaṇa ; gauḥ — the cow ; iva — as .

Translation

When a brāhmaṇa’s property is stolen, even unknowingly, it certainly causes the person who takes it to fall down, just as the brāhmaṇa’s cow did to Nṛga.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

When a brāhmaṇa's property is stolen, even unknowingly, it certainly causes the person who takes it to fall down, just as the brāhmaṇa's cow did to Nṛga. KB 10.64.43 “You should learn from the example of King Nṛga that even if someone unknowingly usurps the property of a brāhmaṇa, he is put into a miserable condition of life.”

Purport

The Lord here demonstrates that His instructions are not theoretical but practical, as seen concretely in the case of Nṛga Mahārāja.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

This is not an exaggeration to instill fear. There is direct proof as stated in this verse.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

That the cow was taken from the brāhmaṇa was not known to Nṛga, but was understood by the people listening to the story.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

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.