FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.34.22

निशामुखं मानयन्तावुदितोडुपतारकम् । मल्लिकागन्धमत्तालि जुष्टं कुमुदवायुना ॥ २२ ॥
niśā-mukhaṁ mānayantāv
[nishaa-mukham maanayantaav]
uditoḍupa-tārakam
[uditodupa-taarakam]
mallikā-gandha-mattāli-
[mallikaa-gandha-mattaali-]
juṣṭaṁ kumuda-vāyunā
[jushtam kumuda-vaayunaa]
niśā - mukham — the beginning of night mānayantau — the two of Them honoring udita — having risen uḍupa — the moon tārakam — and stars mallikā — of the jasmine flowers gandha — by the fragrance matta — intoxicated ali — by the bees juṣṭam — liked kumuda — from the lotuses vāyunā — with the breeze .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
niśā-mukhaṁ mānayantāv
niśā - mukham
the beginning of night
mānayantau
the two of Them honoring
uditoḍupa-tārakam
udita
having risen
mallikā-gandha-mattāli-
juṣṭaṁ kumuda-vāyunā
uḍupa
the moon
tārakam
and stars
mallikā
of the jasmine flowers
gandha
by the fragrance
matta
intoxicated
ali
by the bees
juṣṭam
liked
kumuda
from the lotuses
vāyunā
with the breeze .
  • niśā-mukham — the face/beginning of night
    Niśā (night) + mukha (face, opening). Literally 'the mouth of night' — the dusk. Sanskrit poetic convention treats nightfall as a face emerging from the day; Gauḍīyas note that yogamāyā arranges every Vraja-evening as a stage-set for the next līlā.
  • mānayantau — the two of Them honoring/praising
    Present participle dual of √man (to honor, regard). Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma honor the night — Bhagavān models that even the elements of creation deserve appreciation when they serve līlā. Vaiṣṇava aesthetics is the opposite of indifferent.
  • mallikā-gandha — the fragrance of jasmine
    Mallikā = jasmine; gandha = fragrance. The flower of Vraja-night, sacred to Rādhā and the gopīs. Gauḍīyas pair jasmine with the sandal-paste of v. 21 — Vraja's olfactory ecology is the smell of bhakti-rasa concentrated.
  • matta-ali — by intoxicated bees
    Matta (intoxicated) + ali (bee). Bees drunk on flower-nectar are the standard Bhāgavata simile for souls drunk on Bhagavat-rasa. The whole forest is conducting bhakti in its way — bees on jasmine, breeze through lotuses, gopīs around Kṛṣṇa.
The two Lords praised the nightfall, signaled by the rising of the moon and the appearance of stars, a lotus-scented breeze and bees intoxicated by the fragrance of jasmine flowers.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The two Lords praised the nightfall, signaled by the rising of the moon and the appearance of stars, a lotus-scented breeze and bees intoxicated by the fragrance of jasmine flowers.
Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

At the end of the śiśira season when the cold mist disappears, the moon shines brightly. When spring begins, the jasmines blossom.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The breeze was soft, fragrant and cooling. Though there are many colorful flowers in Vṛndāvana, only jasmine and lotus are mentioned here. They blossomed at night for the special occasion.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva
The Lords praise the night — rising moon, stars, lotus-scented breeze, jasmine-intoxicated bees. The Lord blesses the present moment by praising it; devotees can learn to bless what is here rather than long for elsewhere.
Reflection Questions
  • What about this present hour could you praise instead of escaping?
  • Where do you wait for ideal conditions when the Lord is praising the current ones?

Moonrise, jasmine-scented breeze, bees drunk on flowers — the Vraja night is itself a co-conspirator of līlā. Even creation arranges Itself decoratively when Bhagavān comes out to play; the breeze is His attendant, the moon His lamp-bearer.

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