FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.10.19

अश्रूयन्ताशिष: सत्यास्तत्र तत्र द्विजेरिता: । नानुरूपानुरूपाश्च निर्गुणस्य गुणात्मन: ॥ १९ ॥
aśrūyantāśiṣaḥ satyās
[ashrooyantaashishah satyaas]
tatra tatra dvijeritāḥ
[tatra tatra dvijeritaah]
nānurūpānurūpāś ca
[naanuroopaanuroopaash cha]
nirguṇasya guṇātmanaḥ
[nirgunasya gunaatmanah]
aśrūyanta — being heard āśiṣaḥ — benediction satyāḥ — all truths tatra — here tatra — there dvija-īritāḥ — sounded by learned brāhmaṇas na — not anurūpa — befitting anurūpāḥ — fitting ca — also nirguṇasya — of the Absolute guṇa-ātmanaḥ — playing the role of a human being.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
aśrūyantāśiṣaḥ satyās
aśrūyanta
being heard
āśiṣaḥ
benediction
satyāḥ
all truths
tatra tatra dvijeritāḥ
tatra
here
tatra
there
dvija-īritāḥ
sounded by learned brāhmaṇas
nānurūpānurūpāś ca
na
not
anurūpa
befitting
anurūpāḥ
fitting
ca
also
nirguṇasya guṇātmanaḥ
nirguṇasya
of the Absolute
guṇa-ātmanaḥ
playing the role of a human being.
It was being heard here and there that the benedictions being paid to Kṛṣṇa were neither befitting nor unbefitting because they were all for the Absolute, who was now playing the part of a human being.

At places there were sounds of Vedic benediction aiming at the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. The benedictions were fitting in the sense that the Lord was playing the part of a human being, as if a cousin of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, but they were also unfitting because the Lord is absolute and has nothing to do with any kind of material relativities. He is nirguṇa, or there are no material qualities in Him, but He is full of transcendental qualities. In the transcendental world there is nothing contradictory, whereas in the relative world everything has its opposite. In the relative world white is the opposite conception of black, but in the transcendental world there is no distinction between white and black. Therefore the sounds of benedictions uttered by the learned brāhmaṇas here and there appear to be contradictory in relation with the Absolute Person, but when they are applied to the Absolute Person they lose all contradiction and become transcendental. One example may clear this idea. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is sometimes described as a thief. He is very famous amongst His pure devotees as the Mākhana-cora. He used to steal butter from the houses of neighbors at Vṛndāvana in His early age. Since then He is famous as a thief. But in spite of His being famous as a thief, He is worshiped as a thief, whereas in the mundane world a thief is punished and is never praised. Since He is the Absolute Personality of Godhead, everything is applicable to Him, and still in spite of all contradictions He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
On the road, he heard the factual blessings uttered by brāhmaṇas, which were not appropriate for the Lord who is beyond all qualities of this world, but which were appropriate for the Lord who has spiritual qualities relished by his devotees.
Commentary

The blessings are described as satya or true because Kṛṣṇa never deviates from those descriptions, but the blessings were both inappropriate (nānurūpāḥ) and appropriate (anurūpāḥ). The sandhi is poetic license. From the point of view of the Lord’s powers, blessings such as “Be happy!” are inappropriate for one who is without material qualities (nirguṇasya) and full of spiritual bliss. From the point of view of sweetness, the same blessings are appropriate for the Lord who has spiritual qualities such as being controlled by the devotee’s prema and being devoted to brāhmaṇas (guṇātmaṇaḥ). The words are appropriate because the Lord’s words in reply “I am always happy with your blessings” which describe his qualities should not be false. As well since Kṛṣṇa is both the viṣaya and āśraya of dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and mādhurya rasas, he is actually filled with spiritual qualities of happiness and distress arising from meeting and separating from his devotees.

Benedictions were paid to Kṛṣṇa — neither befitting nor unbefitting, since He is the Absolute playing as human. Our formalities don't constrain Him. He receives whatever is offered with love.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I withholding offerings because I worry they're not 'right'?
  • How does it free me to know the Lord receives what is given in love?
📝 My note

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