FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.44.9

धर्मव्यतिक्रमो ह्यस्य समाजस्य ध्रुवं भवेत् । यत्राधर्म: समुत्तिष्ठेन्न स्थेयं तत्र कर्हिचित् ॥ ९ ॥
dharma-vyatikramo hy asya
[dharma-vyatikramo hy asya]
samājasya dhruvaṁ bhavet
[samaajasya dhruvam bhavet]
yatrādharmaḥ samuttiṣṭhen
[yatraadharmah samuttishthen]
na stheyaṁ tatra karhicit
[na stheyam tatra karhichit]
dharma — of religious principles vyatikramaḥ — transgression hi — indeed asya — by this samājasya — company dhruvam — certainly bhavet — must be yatra — wherein adharmaḥ — irreligion samuttiṣṭhet — has fully arisen na stheyam — one should not remain tatra — there karhicit — for any duration of time at all .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
dharma-vyatikramo hy asya
dharma
of religious principles
vyatikramaḥ
transgression
samājasya dhruvaṁ bhavet
yatrādharmaḥ samuttiṣṭhen
na stheyaṁ tatra karhicit
hi
indeed
asya
by this
samājasya
company
dhruvam
certainly
bhavet
must be
yatra
wherein
adharmaḥ
irreligion
samuttiṣṭhet
has fully arisen
na stheyam
one should not remain
tatra
there
karhicit
for any duration of time at all .
  • dharma - vyatikramaḥ — transgression of dharma
    Compound: dharma + vyatikrama (overstepping). Stronger than mere adharma — a violation in motion, an active crossing of the line. The women's diagnosis is clinical.
  • samuttiṣṭhet — should rise up
    Optative of sam + ud + √sthā. The same verb of rising that names dawn and resurrection — used here for the rising of adharma. The Bhāgavatam will not let the reader forget that evil also has its sunrise.
  • na stheyam — one should not stay
    Gerundive of √sthā with negation. The Smṛti rule: in a place where dharma is openly transgressed, a saintly person leaves. Gauḍīyas extend this to mental association — do not 'stay' in thoughts where adharma rises.
  • karhicit — ever, at any time
    Indeclinable. The absoluteness of the prohibition — not 'usually not', but 'never'. The women's voice has the tone of a śāstric ruling, though they are merely housewives at the rim of a wrestling arena.
Religious principles have certainly been violated in this assembly. One should not remain for even a moment in a place where irreligion is flourishing.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Religious principles have certainly been violated in this assembly. One should not remain for even a moment in a place where irreligion is flourishing.
Commentary

Certainly there is irreligion (dharma vatikramah) at this assembly (samajasya). No one should stay here. Therefore we should leave this place.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

One should not remain where adharma flourishes (samuttiṣṭhet).

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

This is certainly (hi) a violation of dharma in this assembly of Kaṁsa (asya), if one remains present. No one should remain here. And intelligent persons should not remain here from the beginning. And no one should enter this assembly. Another group spoke in this way according to Śridhara Svāmī. However, since they all agreed, one can say they all said this. What can be said? One should not stay here.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Bhakti (Devotion)
Related verses
Concepts
Dharma
Religious principles are violated here; one should not remain even a moment where irreligion flourishes. The instruction is severe — leave promptly, do not linger to register objection later.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have you lingered in compromised spaces for the sake of social ease?
  • What promptness might your conscience require?

Where adharma rises, the women say, one should not stay even for a moment — like a guest who, smelling smoke under the floor, does not first finish his meal but stands and walks out. Their counsel is not strategy; it is the body's instinct that a Vaiṣṇava lives by.

📝 My note

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