Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.38.13
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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sātvata
—
of the Sātvatas
The Sātvata dynasty — the Yadu / Vṛṣṇi line. Gauḍīyas read sātvata as etymologically linked to sat (pure, real), the dynasty fit for Bhagavān's appearance. The line into which Kṛṣṇa took birth is itself a doctrinal claim.
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setu
—
codes of religion, embankments
Setu — bridge, embankment, boundary. The codes of dharma are setus the Lord Himself sets up. Gauḍīyas read this as the principle that scripture and dharma are not human conventions but the Lord's own architecture.
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vraje
—
in Vraja
Locative of Vraja — the cow-pastures of Nanda Mahārāja, the topographical heart of Gauḍīya theology. Akrūra's verse pulls Bhagavān's address from the cosmic court down to one specific Indian village. This is the Gauḍīya's home address.
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yaśaḥ
—
His fame
Yaśas — glory, fame. The hearing of which (śravaṇam) is the first limb of bhakti. The demigods sing it; Akrūra is about to live inside it. Gauḍīyas hold yaśas-kīrtanam as inseparable from prema.
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īśvaraḥ
—
the Supreme Lord, the controller
Īśvara — from √īś, to rule. Gauḍīyas hold the Lord-of-Vraja paradox tightly: the īśvara of all worlds plays as a cowherd boy in this village. Both terms are true; the cowherd-frame is the higher one.
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aśeṣa - maṅgalam
—
all-auspicious
Compound: aśeṣa (without remainder) + maṅgala (auspicious). Bhagavān's yaśas is auspicious without remainder — not partially, not contextually. Gauḍīyas read this as the basis for the unconditional efficacy of nāma-saṅkīrtana.
The Lord who glances over prakṛti (verse 11) and whose actions and qualities purify the universe (verse12) has appeared in the Sātvata dynasty and dwells in Vraja. This is how the three verses are connected. Kila indicates that this well known among the devotees and ātmārāma and is thus true. He acts for the benefit of devatās like Brahmā and Śiva who maintain bhagavat-dharma. Not only does he benefit those who see his avatāra form. He spreads his fame which the devatās, who are most worthy of worship, glorify and which is beneficial for unlimited beings, even the lowest beings. Even Kṛṣṇa’s aṁśa avatāras are special. That was explained in verse 12. The Lord in performing his actions is not like us who are controlled by karma, but is independent (īśvaraḥ).
Now, in Vraja manifesting his nature as bhagavān he has appeared. Ca mean but. He is shown more particularly than previously. But (ca) he has appeared in the Yadu dynasty. Or ca means even though. Even though he is the creator, he has appeared now. Kila indicates it is well known in scriptures. He benefits the devatās who protect his laws. If the devatās were to suffer, his own laws would not be true. Or he benefits Brahmā who institutes his laws. The Lord appeared in this world by Brahmā’s request. It was said vikhanasārthitaḥ: Brahmā prayed that you come. (SB 10.31.4) By benefiting the creator of the world, all beings in the world get benefit. Spreading his fame more than previously (vistārayan), because he displays unlimited qualities of bhagavān, he lives in Vraja. This display cannot occur elsewhere. He displays his unlimited powers (īśvaraḥ). Or as īśvara, by his desire alone, staying in Vraja, he can relieve the earth of its burden by killing Kaṁsa and benefit the devatās, in order to spread his fame. Or, though he is the lord of persons like me, he spreads is fame in Vraja alone. The devatās sing about the Lord who has unlimited auspicious qualities, or from whom unlimited auspiciousness arises, or who is auspicious for the materialists, aspirants for liberation, the liberated and the devotees. He is auspicious for practitioners as well as persons who are perfected. Thus he should somehow come from Vraja. Or he will come to benefit the devatās and Yadus, since he is glorified by the devatas and has unlimited auspiciousness because of his fame.
- Are you nourished by Kṛṣṇa's specific stories, or only by general spirituality?
- What specific incarnation or pastime grounds your practice this season?
A king resides in the capital for the affairs of state, but his beloved child plays in a village; the king's true joy is the village, not the capital. Vraja, not Mathurā, not Dvārakā, is the place where Bhagavān's heart is — and the demigods' songs are themselves only echoes of what is happening there.
My note
Source: vedabase.io