Canto 10: The Summum BonumChapter 84: The Sages' Teachings at Kurukshetra

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.84.39

rinais tribhir dvijo jāto

devarshi-pitrinām prabho

yajñādhyayana-putrais tāny

anistīrya tyajan patet

SYNONYMS

rinaih — with debts; tribhih — three; dvi-jaha member of the twice-born classes; jātah — is born; devato the demigods; rishi — sages; pitrinām — and forefathers; prabhoO master (Vasudeva); yajña — by sacrifice; adhyayana — study of scripture; putraih — and (begetting) children; tāni — these (debts); anistīrya — not liquidating; tyajan — leaving (his body); patethe falls down.

TRANSLATION

Dear Prabhu, a member of the twice-born classes is born with three kinds of debts — those owed to the demigods, to the sages and to his forefathers. If he leaves his body without first liquidating these debts by performing sacrifice, studying the scriptures and begetting children, he will fall down into a hellish condition.

PURPORT

Concerning the special obligations of a brāhmana, the śruti states, jāyamāno vai brāhmanas tribhir rinavāñ jāyate brahmacaryena rishibhyo yajñena devebhyah prajayā pitribhyah: "Whenever a brāhmana takes birth, three debts are born along with him. He can pay his debt to the sages by celibacy, his debt to the demigods by sacrifice, and his debt to his forefathers by begetting children."

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