Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.23.28
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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yāta
—
go
Imperative of √yā. The same root as in verse 3 (prayāta) where Kṛṣṇa sent the boys. Kṛṣṇa's command is to go — but not, this time, to gain anything; the wives have already received what was to be received.
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deva-yajanam
—
to the sacrificial arena
Compound: deva (demigod) + yajanam (worship-place). The same site that failed to receive Him will now receive these women back, transformed. Bhakti returns devotees to dharma with the rasa restored.
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sva-satram
—
their own sacrifices
Compound: sva (own) + satram (sacrifice). The wives' assistance is needed to complete the yajña. Kṛṣṇa upholds varṇāśrama-dharma even as He has just exposed its limit.
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gṛha-medhinaḥ
—
the householders
Compound: gṛha (home) + medhinaḥ (those who sacrifice). The technical term — householders bound by ritual obligation. Kṛṣṇa names the husbands by their dharma-role, not their failure.
"Because you have heard from Garga and other sages that paramatma is the same as myself, as paramatma I am continuously embracing your bodies. Therefore (tat) return to the sacrifical arena." "That may be but how can we return there, giving up you, who are directly the paramatma standing before us?" "Your husbands need your assistance to complete the sacrifice. The sacrificial acts have been explained by me in the Vedas. Therefore go and perform those activities according to my order, the vedic injunctions. You will be able to see me directly there as well."
Tad yāta deva-yajanaṁ is the version accepted by Śrīdhara Svāmī. Others however accept tad yāta sādhvyo yajanam. The husbands will be able to complete their personal sacrifices. This indicates there were sacrifices for others, not for themselves. You are necessary because without you the sacrifice cannot be completed. For this reason you should go the sacrifice, not to your houses. They went to their materialistic husbands because of the order of the Lord. He gave the order out of the desire to show mercy to them since he was the friend of all beings.
Your husbands will complete the first part of their sacrifice. This indicates that they then had to perform sacrifices for others. Go, since they are householders. Without you they cannot be householders and thus cannot perform sacrifice. Therefore go to the arena (deva-yajanam) not your houses. This is the approved version. “They should be ignored because they disrespected you.” They are brāhmaṇas, and should be respected. In the story of Nṛga it is said: vipraṁ kṛtāgasam api naiva druhyata māmakāḥ ghnantaṁ bahu śapantaṁ vā namas-kuruta nityaśaḥ My dear followers, never treat a learned brāhmaṇa harshly, even if he has sinned. Even if he attacks you physically or repeatedly curses you, always continue to offer him obeisances. SB 10.64.41
- Where am I assuming devotion requires leaving when the Lord may be sending me back to finish a duty?
- What recent 'return home' instruction have I resisted?
The teacher, having already accepted the student in His heart, sends her back to her duty to test the bond — like Mahāprabhu sending Raghunātha dāsa back to his father before finally accepting him into Purī. The order to return is itself the seal of acceptance.
My note
Source: vedabase.io