FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.11.23

स्वयं च गुरुभिर्विप्रै: सदारै: स्थविरैरपि । आशीर्भिर्युज्यमानोऽन्यैर्वन्दिभिश्चाविशत्पुरम् ॥ २३ ॥
svayaṁ ca gurubhir vipraiḥ
[svayam cha gurubhir vipraih]
sadāraiḥ sthavirair api
[sadaaraih sthavirair api]
āśīrbhir yujyamāno ’nyair
[aasheerbhir yujyamaano ’nyair]
vandibhiś cāviśat puram
[vandibhish chaavishat puram]
Word-for-word
svayam — Himself ca — also gurubhiḥ — by elderly relatives vipraiḥ — by the brāhmaṇas sadāraiḥ — with their wives sthaviraiḥ — invalid api — also āśīrbhiḥ — by the blessing of yujyamānaḥ — being praised by anyaiḥ — by others vandibhiḥ — admirers ca — and aviśat — entered puram — the city.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
svayaṁ ca gurubhir vipraiḥ
svayam
Himself
ca
also
gurubhiḥ
by elderly relatives
vipraiḥ
by the brāhmaṇas
sadāraiḥ sthavirair api
sadāraiḥ
with their wives
sthaviraiḥ
invalid
api
also
āśīrbhir yujyamāno ’nyair
āśīrbhiḥ
by the blessing of
yujyamānaḥ
being praised by
vandibhiś cāviśat puram
anyaiḥ
by others
vandibhiḥ
admirers
ca
and
aviśat
entered
puram
the city.
Then the Lord personally entered the city accompanied by elderly relatives and invalid brāhmaṇas with their wives, all offering benedictions and singing the glories of the Lord. Others also praised the glories of the Lord.
Purport

The brāhmaṇas in society were never attentive to banking money for future retired life. When they were old invalids, they used to approach with their wives the assembly of the kings, and simply by praising the glorious deeds performed by the kings they would be provided with all necessities of life. Such brāhmaṇas were not, so to speak, flatterers of the kings, but the kings were actually glorified by their actions, and they were sincerely still more encouraged in pious acts by such brāhmaṇas in a dignified way. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is worthy of all glories, and the praying brāhmaṇas and others were glorified themselves by chanting the glories of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Removing all fear from fathers and gurus by bowing his head, greeting the elders of the Yadus with words, others with embraces, the touch of his hands, smiles and glances, he respected all, down to the outcastes with desirable gifts.
Commentary

Prahvā means to bow the head. He did this to fathers and other elder relatives and to sages like Garga. He greeted elders of the Yadu clan with words. Down to the outcastes he comforted all, giving them fearlessness. Varaiḥ means “by desirable gifts.”

Related lectures
Personal Guidance
He entered the city with elderly relatives and invalid brāhmaṇas with their wives, all offering benedictions. The Lord's entry into a city is accompanied by the elderly and infirm. Inclusion is the natural retinue.
Reflection Questions
  • Whom would I want walking with me at my most important moments?
  • Where am I leaving the elderly and weak behind in my own movements?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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