Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.23.16
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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namaḥ
—
obeisances
From √nam — to bow. The first word out of the boys' mouths inside the wives' hall. Vaiṣṇava-mantra everywhere begins with namaḥ; even sakhās use the form here.
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vipra-patnībhyaḥ
—
to the wives of the brāhmaṇas
Compound: vipra (brāhmaṇa) + patnībhyaḥ (wives, dative plural). Honour-form. The boys grant the wives the full social title even while delivering a request that will pull these women out of that role.
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kṛṣṇena
—
by Lord Kṛṣṇa
Instrumental. The name is mentioned in the second line of the boys' speech — Gauḍīyas notice this is also exactly the moment the wives' minds awaken (verse 18: śrutvā acyutam). The name is the cause.
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iṣitāḥ
—
sent
Past participle of √iṣ. Specifically 'impelled by inner will' — the same verb-family as iṣṭa. The boys are not random visitors; Bhagavān's will has placed them on this threshold.
We have been sent by Krsna (isita).
Seeing they were devotional as per Kṛṣṇa’s words, they spoke to them with reverence. We offer respects to you, worthy of being respected as wives of brāhmaṇas. Since the wives did not seem to be aware of them they spoke again. Hear our words. Out of respect for the meaning of the words, they use the plural (vacāṁsi). We were sent by Kṛṣṇa, who has attracted your hearts. He is not far away (avidure).
They offered respects by saying namo vaḥ. Or they said this in order to test the women’s mood. On hearing the words the women would face the boys if they respected them. They offered respects because the women were wives of brāhmaṇas (vipra-patnibhyaḥ). Or they offered respects again to show their devotion to the wives. Hear (nibodhata) our words. Plural is used to show respect. They speak with natural humility. Nibodhata (be attentive) is used so that they would listen attentively or would hear with joy. We have been sent by Kṛṣṇa, who has attracted your hearts. He is passing nearby.
- What part of my approach changes when I shift audiences from official to devoted — and should it?
- Where could I keep the message simpler, since the Lord's name is what carries it?
A herald announces the king's name at the doorway and the door opens before he finishes — the wives' hearts have been waiting on that name; the sentence cannot complete before they have begun to move.
My note
Source: vedabase.io