FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.38.40

तस्मै भुक्तवते प्रीत्या राम: परमधर्मवित् । मखवासैर्गन्धमाल्यै: परां प्रीतिं व्यधात्पुन: ॥ ४० ॥
tasmai bhuktavate prītyā
[tasmai bhuktavate preetyaa]
rāmaḥ parama-dharma-vit
[raamah parama-dharma-vit]
makha-vāsair gandha-mālyaiḥ
[makha-vaasair gandha-maalyaih]
parāṁ prītiṁ vyadhāt punaḥ
[paraam preetim vyadhaat punah]
Word-for-word
tasmai — to him bhuktavate — who had finished eating prītyā — affectionately rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma parama — the supreme dharma - vit — knower of religious principles mukha - vāsaiḥ — with aromatic herbs for sweetening the mouth gandha — with perfume mālyaiḥ — and flower garlands parām — the highest prītim — satisfaction vyadhāt — arranged punaḥ — further .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasmai bhuktavate prītyā
tasmai
to him
bhuktavate
who had finished eating
prītyā
affectionately
rāmaḥ parama-dharma-vit
rāmaḥ
Lord Balarāma
parama
the supreme
dharma - vit
knower of religious principles
mukha - vāsaiḥ
with aromatic herbs for sweetening the mouth
makha-vāsair gandha-mālyaiḥ
gandha
with perfume
mālyaiḥ
and flower garlands
parāṁ prītiṁ vyadhāt punaḥ
parām
the highest
prītim
satisfaction
vyadhāt
arranged
punaḥ
further .
Important Words
  • rāmaḥ — Lord Balarāma
    The name Rāma here refers to Balarāma. Gauḍīyas distinguish this Rāma from Daśaratha's son Rāma; Balarāma is Bala-rāma, the strong Rāma, identical with Saṅkarṣaṇa in tattva. Bhāgavata's idiom uses the short form when the context is settled.
  • parama — the supreme
    Highest. In compound parama-dharma-vit — the supreme knower of dharma. Gauḍīyas note that Balarāma's character throughout Bhāgavata is the upholder of dharma-vidhi; even hospitality is performed by Him with the precision of one who knows the highest dharma.
  • dharma - vit — knower of religious principles
    Compound: dharma + vit (knower). One who has perfectly internalized dharma. Gauḍīyas read this not as legalism but as svarūpa-knowledge: Balarāma knows what each moment calls for, and hospitality at this moment is the dharma.
  • mukha - vāsaiḥ — with aromatic herbs for sweetening the mouth
    Compound: mukha (mouth) + vāsa (perfume). The mouth-fragrance — typically betel, cardamom, lavaṅga — offered after a meal. Gauḍīyas note the śāstric completeness: bhakti pays attention to the end of things, not only the beginning.
  • mālyaiḥ — and flower garlands
    Instrumental plural of mālya — garland. Garlanding the guest at meal's end is part of the formal welcome. Gauḍīyas read this as the visible mark of bhagavat-saṅga: one leaves a meeting with Him wearing a garland that came from His hand.
  • prītim — satisfaction
    Prīti — affection, loving satisfaction. A distinct term from sukha and ānanda — prīti is reciprocal, two-way. Gauḍīyas regard prīti as the rasa-flavor specific to vātsalya and dāsya, and this verse closes Akrūra's reception in prīti, not in mere comfort.
When Akrūra had eaten to his satisfaction, Lord Balarāma, the supreme knower of religious duties, offered him aromatic herbs for sweetening his mouth, along with fragrances and flower garlands. Thus Akrūra once again enjoyed the highest pleasure.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When Akrūra had eaten to his satisfaction,, Lord Balarāma, the supreme knower of religious duties, offered him aromatic herbs for sweetening his mouth, along with fragrances and flower garlands. Thus Akrūra once again enjoyed the highest pleasure.
Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The dative case is used instead of the possessive case in tasmai bhuktavate (when he had eaten). Balarāma was the knower of vaiṣṇava-dharma, how to treat devotees. He knew how to welcome the devotees. It was the Dvādaśī, time for breaking the fast, and especially Vaiṣṇavas should be properly respected at that time. Balarāma acted to teach the common people. He made Akrūra pleased. That day was Dvādaśī and in two days it would be Caturdaśī, the day for worshipping Śiva and the day that Kaṁsa would die. Out of eagerness to see the Lord, Akrūra had not broken the Ekādaśī fast. According to the rule one cannot break the fast in the evening. This rule was overlooked because he took his meal directly in the house of the Lord.

Related values & verses
Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Udyama (Industriousness / Effort)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)
Related verses
BG 15.9 BG 18.64 BG 2.62 BG 3.11 BG 12.3 SB 4.29.2 BG 9.11 BG 7.8 BG 10.3 BG 13.1 BG 5.18 BG 6.1 BG 6.5 BG 1.1
Concepts
Dharma
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Balarāma offers aromatic herbs, fragrances and garlands; Akrūra enjoys the highest pleasure once again. Devotional life layers small pleasures — bath, food, scent, flowers — into a quiet, sustained delight.
Reflection Questions
  • What small sensory pleasures in your life could become part of devotional layering?
  • Where do you reject simple comfort as if it were unspiritual?
Analogy

The end of a feast is the proof of a host: betel-leaves, perfume, garland — the small details that say the guest is fully home. Balarāma does not let Akrūra's welcome trail off; the parām prīti is sustained right through to the closing fragrance.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 38