FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.45.46

तथेति तेनोपानीतं गुरुपुत्रं यदूत्तमौ । दत्त्वा स्वगुरवे भूयो वृणीष्वेति तमूचतु: ॥ ४६ ॥
tatheti tenopānītaṁ
[tatheti tenopaaneetam]
guru-putraṁ yadūttamau
[guru-putram yadoottamau]
dattvā sva-gurave bhūyo
[dattvaa sva-gurave bhooyo]
vṛṇīṣveti tam ūcatuḥ
[vrineeshveti tam oochatuh]
tathā — so be it iti — (Yamarāja) thus saying tena — by him upānītam — brought forward guru - putram — the spiritual master’s son yadu - uttamau — the best of the Yadus, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma dattvā — giving sva - gurave — to Their guru bhūyaḥ — again vṛṇīṣva — please choose iti — thus tam — to him ūcatuḥ — They said .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tatheti tenopānītaṁ
tathā
so be it
iti
(Yamarāja) thus saying
tena
by him
guru-putraṁ yadūttamau
upānītam
brought forward
dattvā sva-gurave bhūyo
guru - putram
the spiritual master’s son
yadu - uttamau
the best of the Yadus, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
dattvā
giving
vṛṇīṣveti tam ūcatuḥ
sva - gurave
to Their guru
bhūyaḥ
again
vṛṇīṣva
please choose
iti
thus
tam
to him
ūcatuḥ
They said .
  • yadu - uttamau — the best of the Yadus
    Yadu-uttama = topmost of Yadus. The Yadu identity (vv. 12, 13, 15) reasserted at the moment of guru-gift. Bhagavān gives this gift not as God-from-above but as kuladīpa, the family's brightest lamp.
  • sva - gurave — to Their own guru
    Sva-guru = one's own guru. The possessive is doctrinally weighted — Sāndīpani is Bhagavān's own, claimed openly. Gauḍīyas: there is no shame in Bhagavān calling a human being 'My guru.'
  • bhūyaḥ vṛṇīṣva — please choose again
    Bhūyaḥ = once more; vṛṇīṣva = choose (imperative of √vṛ). The standard formula of granted-boon-plus-offer. Bhagavān's hospitality is structural — what was asked is given, and more is invited.
  • dattvā — having given
    Absolutive of √dā — having given. The simple verb closes the most intricate sevā: a son retrieved from death and personally delivered. Bhagavān gives by the same dā that any householder uses for a coin.
  • iti tam ūcatuḥ — thus they said to him
    Dual verb — Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma speaking together. Throughout the chapter the two-Lord voice acts as one; guru-sevā is performed in chorus, never solo.
Yamarāja said, “So be it,” and brought forth the guru’s son. Then those two most exalted Yadus presented the boy to Their spiritual master and said to him, “Please select another boon.”
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Yamarāja said, "So be it," and brought forth the guru's son. Then those two most exalted Yadus presented the boy to Their spiritual master and said to him, "Please select another boon."
Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

When Yama agreed, he brought the son of the guru near living in same body with which he died. Avantī-khaṇḍa says: tac crutvā dharma-rājas tu putraḥ sāndīpaneh tadā sasarja bāla-rūpaṁ ca tad unmānaṁ tad udbhavam paśyatāṁ sarva-devānāṁ tad adbhutam ivābhavat Hearing this, Yama created a youthful body for the son of Sāndīpani, the same size as before. Seeing this, the devatās were astonished. It should be understood that this happened because of the power of Kṛṣṇa. In the previous verse, enjoying the pastime, Kṛṣṇa said, “Obey my command.” It will be said later: martyena yo guru-sutaṁ yama-loka-nītaṁ tvāṁ cānayac charaṇa-daḥ paramāstra-dagdham Kṛṣṇa brought the son of his guru back from the planet of death in the boy’s selfsame body, and as the ultimate giver of protection he saved you also when you were burned by the weapon of Aśvatthāmā. SB 11.31.12 Thus was by Kṛṣṇa’s power that the boy regained his former body. Viṣṇu Purāṇa says: taṁ pāñcajanyam āpūrya gatvā yamapuraṁ hariḥ / baladevaś ca balavāṣ jitvā vaivasvataṁ yamam // taṁ bālaṁ yātanā-saṁsthaṁ yathā pūrva-śarīriṇam / pitre pradattavān kṛṣṇo balaś ca balināṁ varaḥ // Blowing the conch and going to Yama’s abode, strong Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma defeated strong Yama, whose abode was filled with painful torture. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, best of the strong, gave the boy, with his previous body, to his father. Yama’s abode was previously the place of suffering, but by Kṛṣṇa’s presence all the suffering disappeared. By the will of the Lord, the boy also went to Vaikuṇṭha. Kṛṣṇa also gave gems from the ocean to Sāndīpani. Hari-vaṁśa says: tataḥ sāṁdīpaneḥ putraṁ tad rūpa-vayasaṁ tadā / prādāt kṛṣṇaḥ pratītāya saha ratnair udāradhīḥ // Kṛṣṇa delivered the son of Sāndīpani with his previous form and age, along with jewels from the ocean. The phrase sva-gurave (to his own guru) indicates that Kṛṣṇa had great devotion to him. Again they said, “Choose another gift.” This was natural to them since they were the best of the Yadus. They had appeared in the Yadu dynasty, in order to preach proper dharma.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

When Yama agreed, he brought the son of the guru near (upa) or as an offering. They gave him to their guru. Or he brought the boy in same body with which he died (upa). They also gave him jewels mentioned before. Hari-vaṁśa says: tataḥ sāṁdīpaneḥ putraṁ tad rūpa-vayasaṁ tadā prādāt kṛṣṇaḥ pratītāya saha ratnair udāradhīḥ Kṛṣṇa delivered the son of Sāndīpani with his previous form and age, along with jewels from the ocean. The phrase sva-gurave (to his own guru) indicates that Kṛṣṇa had great devotion to him. Again they said, “Choose another gift.” This was natural to them since they were the best of the Yadus. They had appeared in the Yadu dynasty, in order to preach proper dharma.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Asteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)
Related verses
Concepts
Dharma
Yama says 'so be it,' brings the boy, and the Yadus present him to their guru, asking him to select another boon. Beyond fulfilling the assigned debt, devoted students keep offering more — generosity isn't bounded by minimum requirements.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do you stop at exactly what was asked rather than offering more?
  • What further boon could you offer a teacher who has given you so much?

Yamarāja brings forth the boy; Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma present him to Sāndīpani and say 'choose another boon.' Bhagavān fulfills the asked-for dakṣiṇā and then, in His characteristic surplus, offers more — His giving outruns the asking.

📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 45