FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.45.14

मयि भृत्य उपासीने भवतो विबुधादय: । बलिं हरन्त्यवनता: किमुतान्ये नराधिपा: ॥ १४ ॥
mayi bhṛtya upāsīne
[mayi bhritya upaaseene]
bhavato vibudhādayaḥ
[bhavato vibudhaadayah]
baliṁ haranty avanatāḥ
[balim haranty avanataah]
kim utānye narādhipāḥ
[kim utaanye naraadhipaah]
mayi — when I bhṛtye — as a servant upāsīne — am present in attendance bhavataḥ — to you vibudha — the demigods ādayaḥ — and so on balim — tribute haranti — will bring avanatāḥ — bowed down in humility kim uta — what then to speak of anye — other nara — of men adhipāḥ — rulers .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mayi bhṛtya upāsīne
mayi
when I
bhṛtye
as a servant
upāsīne
am present in attendance
bhavato vibudhādayaḥ
bhavataḥ
to you
vibudha
the demigods
ādayaḥ
and so on
baliṁ haranty avanatāḥ
balim
tribute
haranti
will bring
avanatāḥ
bowed down in humility
kim utānye narādhipāḥ
kim uta
what then to speak of
anye
other
nara
of men
adhipāḥ
rulers .
  • bhṛtye — as a servant
    Bhṛtya — one supported, a servant. Bhagavān self-designates as bhṛtya. In dāsya-rasa terminology, Kṛṣṇa is here playing the role His own greatest devotees pray to play forever (cf. Hanumān, Lakṣmaṇa).
  • upāsīne — in attendance
    Locative present participle of upa + √ās — sitting near, in attendance. The same root as upāsanā (worship). Bhagavān is upāsīna (the attender) toward His grandfather — a deliberate reversal of upāsya/upāsaka roles.
  • vibudha — the demigods
    Vibudha = the awakened ones, the devas. They will bow because they know who 'the servant' really is. Kṛṣṇa's identity leaks through His service, exalting the one He serves.
  • balim haranti — will bring tribute
    Bali-haraṇa is the technical term for paying tribute to a king. Idea: the devas themselves will perform rāja-bali at Ugrasena's gate because Kṛṣṇa stands behind the throne.
  • nara - adhipāḥ — rulers of men
    Nara-adhipa = lord of men, king. 'What to speak of human kings' — kim uta. The argument is a fortiori: if devas come, mortals follow.
Since I am present in your entourage as your personal attendant, all the demigods and other exalted personalities will come with heads bowed to offer you tribute. What, then, to speak of the rulers of men?

Lord Kṛṣṇa again assures Ugrasena that he should confidently take the throne.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Since I am present in your entourage as your personal attendant, all the demigods and other exalted personalities will come with heads bowed to offer you tribute. What, then, to speak of the rulers of men?
Commentary

If Ugrasena were to object and say that he did not have the power to be the king, Krsna says, "If I am engaged as your servant, then all the devatas will also serve you."

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

He shows Ugrasena’s power to command. At his command, the devatās offer tribute with heads bowed in devotion (avanatāḥ). Viṣṇu Purāṇa says: yayāti-śāpād vaṁśo ‘yam arājyārhe ‘pi sāṁpratam / mayi bhṛtye sthite devan ājñāpayatu kiṁ nṛpaiḥ // Though by Yayātī’s curse the Yadus should not rule, while I remain as your servant, you may give orders to the devatās, what to speak of kings. Another version has hariṣyanti (will offer) instead of haranti. Anye indicates other rulers, who are inferior, or others, even kings.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)
Related verses
Since I am present as your personal attendant, demigods will come with bowed heads to offer tribute — let alone earthly rulers. Real position rests on whose attendant you are; if Kṛṣṇa attends you, all bow.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose attendant are you actually, and what tributes follow from that?
  • Where do you seek recognition that automatically follows the right alignment?

Kṛṣṇa says to Ugrasena, 'with Me as your servant, the demigods themselves will bring tribute' — the way a court official's whisper that the prince is in the room sends every petitioner to his knees. Bhagavān turns the very fact of His servanthood into the king's protection.

📝 My note

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