Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.23.25
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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su-āgatam
—
auspicious welcome
Compound: su (good) + āgatam (come). The traditional Sanskrit welcome-phrase. Kṛṣṇa observes formal household etiquette even toward those who have just abandoned the household.
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mahā-bhāgāḥ
—
O fortunate ladies
Compound: mahā (great) + bhāgāḥ (fortunes). The honorific Śuka uses for Vidura, the gopīs, the great Vaiṣṇavas. Kṛṣṇa now uses it for these women — He has elevated them publicly with one word.
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didṛkṣayā
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with the desire of seeing
Desiderative of √dṛś. Same root as in verse 24. The wives have desired to see; Kṛṣṇa makes them sit so the seeing can occur unhurried. Bhakti is met with reciprocation, not haste.
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upapannam
—
fitting
From upa + √pad — 'come close, become appropriate.' Their coming is proper; their action is not condemnable. Kṛṣṇa overrides any social verdict on these women in advance.
Just as Śrī Kṛṣṇa welcomed the gopīs who came to dance with Him at night, He similarly welcomed the brāhmaṇas’ wives, whose pure love for Him was proved by their overcoming many hindrances to see the Lord. The word upapannam indicates that although these ladies had rejected their husbands’ orders, their behavior was not at all inappropriate, since their husbands had obviously tried to obstruct their loving service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Krsna addressed the wives of the brahmanas, who were endowed with the greatest prema, in a similar manner that he addressed the gopis who came for the rasa dance. "Your coming is all glorious (svagatam), because (yad) desiring to see me, and overcoming all obstacles, you have attained me ( or you came here). As I cannot repay you in any way, what can I do? I am simply your debtor. You are more fortunate than I am (mahabhaga). You should stay here for some time, in order to see me."
He then spoke with respect. Please relax (āsyatām). Please order what I can do for you. He speaks using the plural case in order to show neutrality and hide their devotion to him by effecting an ordinary situation. The phrase “coming with a desire to see him” negates any other desires that may arise after seeing him.
Relax near me (āsyatām). Please tell me what I can do. This shows his merciful nature. He speaks in the plural, not using normal speech in order to cover up his embarrassment about their attraction to him, or to show indifference. Though he knew they came to be his servants, which is clear later, he covers this, being embarrassed in public by the brāhmaṇas’ wives intense love. Thus he simply says “You desired to see us.” It is proper that you have come because I have a desire to see you. Other desires are excluded, since they were brāhmaṇa women. Or it is proper that you came with desire to see me, giving up everything for me.
- Where am I expecting reprimand from Him for a step I took out of love?
- How would I sit if I trusted that He welcomes me as 'most appropriate'?
A host opening a chair before a guest can ask for one — Kṛṣṇa receives the brāhmaṇīs with all formal hospitality, refusing to allow them the small humiliation of having to ask. The mādhurya is in the precedence.
My note
Source: vedabase.io