Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.46.16
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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śūra - nandanaḥ
—
the son of Śūra
Compound: Śūra (Vasudeva's father) + nandana (son/delight). Nanda names Vasudeva by his patronymic — a respectful distance, the courtesy of a cowherd toward Yadu nobility. The verse preserves the social register Nanda inhabits.
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muktaḥ
—
freed
Past participle of √muc. Vasudeva was imprisoned by Kaṁsa for years; Nanda is asking after his release. Gauḍīyas note that the word mukta in 10.46 is bodily liberation from a tyrant — not the Advaitin mukti, which the chapter's later tattva-section will quietly reframe.
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apatya - ādyaiḥ
—
with his children and so on
Compound: apatya (offspring) + ādi (and so on). Nanda asks whether Vasudeva is rejoined with his sons — meaning Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, the boys Nanda himself raised. The phrasing is generous and painful at once: he calls them Vasudeva's offspring, not his own.
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kuśalī
—
well
Nominative of kuśalin — one possessing kuśala (well-being). The standard formal opening of any inquiry. But behind the formality is a father testing whether the word 'well' is now usable in his own household at all.
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suhṛt - vrataḥ
—
devoted to his friends
Compound: suhṛt (well-wisher) + vrata (vow). Nanda credentials Vasudeva by his fidelity to friendship — the very virtue Nanda himself is now living out by receiving Vasudeva's son's messenger with such honor.
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mahā - bhāga
—
O most fortunate one
Vocative compound: mahā (great) + bhāga (share, fortune). Nanda addresses Uddhava as 'most fortunate' — and the chapter will quietly establish that the fortune in question is that of being near Kṛṣṇa, which Nanda himself once had and now does not.
Fearing that if he asked about Krsna, his throat would choke up and tears would come to his eyes, Nanda first asked about the welfare of Vasudeva. Vasudeva was now freed from the prison house of Kamsa, and from all sorts of dangers.
Being unable to ask directly and immediately about Kṛṣṇa because of increased grief of separation, Nanda first asks about the welfare of Vasudeva as an introduction. O greatly fortunate Uddhava! You are qualified with great fortune since you are close to Kṛṣṇa. We however are not qualified for such fortune. Thus we are suitable to be rejected by him. As the son of Śūra Vasudeva has manifested his father’s good fortune, since Kṛṣṇa acts as his son. He is free from all dangers and united with his children (Kṛṣṇa). He is surrounded by friends (including Kṛṣṇa). Is he well? In this way he asks generally about everyone and also the condition of Kṛṣṇa.
Nanda asked about Vasudeva first since he was Kṛṣṇa’s father and Nanda’s friend. Or if he asked about Kṛṣṇa first he would be overcome with pain and would not be able to ask about other things after that. Or he asked the easy questions first since the question about Kṛṣṇa would be extensive. Or he had many worries about his dear friend Vasudeva because of his affection and thus asked about him first. O fortunate one! You are greatly fortunate because you are dear to Kṛṣṇa. We however are unfortunate since he gave us up. He does not mention Vasudeva’s name directly because of his friendship and respect or because of natural affection. He also asks about children and wives (ādyaiḥ). Vasudeva has been freed from all dangers and joined with children and relatives. He is surrounded by the Yadus. He asks about the welfare of Kṛṣṇa by asking about the welfare of all the Yadus and family members like Devakī.
- Whose 'situation in their new city' could you inquire after with this kind of warmth?
- Where could you ask about the people in your past in fuller detail?
After years apart, a father's first question is not about kingdoms or campaigns but: 'Is he eating? Is he with his people?' Nanda asks about Vasudeva and family before he can bring himself to ask about Kṛṣṇa Himself — the heart approaches the most painful subject by circling it.
My note
Source: vedabase.io