FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.16.50

तस्यैव तेऽमूस्तनवस्त्रिलोक्यां शान्ता अशान्ता उत मूढयोनय: । शान्ता: प्रियास्ते ह्यधुनावितुं सतां स्थातुश्च ते धर्मपरीप्सयेहत: ॥ ५० ॥
tasyaiva te ’mūs tanavas tri-lokyāṁ
[tasyaiva te ’moos tanavas tri-lokyaam]
śāntā aśāntā uta mūḍha-yonayaḥ
[shaantaa ashaantaa uta moodha-yonayah]
śāntāḥ priyās te hy adhunāvituṁ satāṁ
[shaantaah priyaas te hy adhunaavitum sataam]
sthātuś ca te dharma-parīpsayehataḥ
[sthaatush cha te dharma-pareepsayehatah]
tasya — of Him eva — indeed te — of You amūḥ — these tanavaḥ — material bodies tri - lokyām — throughout the three worlds śāntāḥ — peaceful (in the mode of goodness) aśāntāḥ — not peaceful (in the mode of passion) uta — and also mūḍha - yonayaḥ — born in ignorant species śāntāḥ — the peaceful persons in the mode of goodness priyāḥ — dear te — to You hi — certainly adhunā — now avitum — to protect satām — of the saintly devotees sthātuḥ — who are present ca — and te — of You dharma — their principles of religion parīpsayā — with the desire of maintaining īhataḥ — who is acting .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasyaiva te ’mūs tanavas tri-lokyāṁ
tasya
of Him
eva
indeed
te
of You
amūḥ
these
śāntā aśāntā uta mūḍha-yonayaḥ
tanavaḥ
material bodies
tri - lokyām
throughout the three worlds
śāntāḥ
peaceful (in the mode of goodness)
śāntāḥ priyās te hy adhunāvituṁ satāṁ
aśāntāḥ
not peaceful (in the mode of passion)
uta
and also
mūḍha - yonayaḥ
born in ignorant species
śāntāḥ
the peaceful persons in the mode of goodness
priyāḥ
dear
sthātuś ca te dharma-parīpsayehataḥ
te
to You
hi
certainly
adhunā
now
avitum
to protect
satām
of the saintly devotees
sthātuḥ
who are present
ca
and
te
of You
dharma
their principles of religion
parīpsayā
with the desire of maintaining
īhataḥ
who is acting .
  • śāntāḥ — the peaceful (sattvic)
    From √śam — to be peaceful. The sattvic-bodied are 'peaceful' — and dear to Bhagavān. Gauḍīya nuance: śānta is the lowest of the five rasas, but its name marks the gateway to higher devotion.
  • satām - sthātuḥ — (for the protection) of the saintly, You stand (here)
    Compound: satām (of the saintly, genitive plural) + sthātuḥ (one who stands). The Lord stands here — in Kāliya's lake — for the sake of the devotees. The avatāra-purpose stated directly.
  • dharma - parīpsayā — with the desire to protect dharma
    Compound: dharma + parīpsā (desire to protect). Same word-field as Gītā 4.7: dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya. The wives quote the Lord back to Himself; they have read His descent-charter.
Therefore all material bodies throughout the three worlds — those that are peaceful, in the mode of goodness; those that are agitated, in the mode of passion; and those that are foolish, in the mode of ignorance — all are Your creations. Still, those living entities whose bodies are in the mode of goodness are especially dear to You, and it is to maintain them and protect their religious principles that You are now present on the earth.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Therefore all material bodies throughout the three worlds—those that are peaceful, in the mode of goodness; those that are agitated, in the mode of passion; and those that are foolish, in the mode of ignorance—all are Your creations. Still, those living entities whose bodies are in the mode of goodness are especially dear to You, and it is to maintain them and protect their religious principles that You are now present on the earth.
Commentary

"What is the intention of your praises?" "You are the universe, consisting of all the devotees and non devotees as previously stated. If you awaken the non devotees with their bad nature for the creation, then how is it possible for Kaliya to give up his cruel nature on his own? Though all the bodies in the universe are yours, now we see that the devotional ones are dear to you. You perform actions to protect the path of the devotees, to nourish them."

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

All bodies existing in the three worlds—peaceful, violent (asantaḥ) and even (uta) born in ignorant species, are your creations. The peaceful are certainly (hi) dear to you today. It is your great mercy that you are compassionate to wicked beings like Kāliya. And he is the worst rascal sin he offended a person like you. The two words te are not faulty composition since they occur in different statements. The word te in the middle modifies śāntāḥ.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

All bodies existing in the three worlds—peaceful, violent (asantaḥ) and even (uta) born in ignorant species, are your creations. The peaceful are certainly (hi) dear today. Or for this reason (hi) they are dear to you (te) who are situated here and to you (te) who act with a desire to protect bhakti (dharma-parīpsayā) of the devotees (satām) or with a desire to produce perfection everywhere. The two words te are not faulty composition since they occur in different statements. Or te refers to the people of Vraja. (These peaceful persons are dear to you.)

Related values
Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Kritajnata (Gratitude)Kartavya (Duty / Responsibility)Satya (Truthfulness)Samata (Equanimity / Even-mindedness)Dana (Charity / Generosity)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Yajña (Sacrifice / Spirit of Offering)
Related verses
All material bodies in goodness, passion, and ignorance are His creations, but those in goodness are especially dear. He descends now to maintain them and protect their religious principles.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I making peace with bodies in passion or ignorance rather than aspiring to goodness?
  • How does today's choice serve the protection of dharmic principles in some life He loves?

All bodies — peaceful sattvic, agitated rājasic, deluded tāmasic — are Yours. But the peaceful are dear to You because You incarnate to protect them and to re-establish dharma. The wives acknowledge that Bhagavān has preferences — and this is not a fault but the very theology of avatāra. Without preference, no descent.

📝 My note

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