FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.48.32

स भवान् सुहृदां वै न: श्रेयान् श्रेयश्चिकीर्षया । जिज्ञासार्थं पाण्डवानां गच्छस्व त्वं गजाह्वयम् ॥ ३२ ॥
sa bhavān suhṛdāṁ vai naḥ
[sa bhavaan suhridaam vai nah]
śreyān śreyaś-cikīrṣayā
[shreyaan shreyash-chikeershayaa]
jijñāsārthaṁ pāṇḍavānāṁ
[jijnaasaartham paandavaanaam]
gacchasva tvaṁ gajāhvayam
[gachchasva tvam gajaahvayam]
Word-for-word
saḥ — that person bhavān — you suhṛdām — of the well-wishers vai — certainly naḥ — Our śreyān — the very best śreyaḥ — for their welfare cikīrṣayā — wishing to arrange jijñāsā — of inquiry artham — for the sake pāṇḍavānām — about the sons of Pāṇdu gacchasva — please go tvam — you gaja - āhvayam — to Gajāhvaya (Hastināpura, the capital of the Kuru dynasty) .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa bhavān suhṛdāṁ vai naḥ
saḥ
that person
bhavān
you
suhṛdām
of the well-wishers
vai
certainly
naḥ
Our
śreyān śreyaś-cikīrṣayā
śreyān
the very best
śreyaḥ
for their welfare
cikīrṣayā
wishing to arrange
jijñāsārthaṁ pāṇḍavānāṁ
jijñāsā
of inquiry
artham
for the sake
pāṇḍavānām
about the sons of Pāṇdu
gacchasva tvaṁ gajāhvayam
gacchasva
please go
tvam
you
gaja - āhvayam
to Gajāhvaya (Hastināpura, the capital of the Kuru dynasty) .
Important Words
  • gaja-āhvayam — to Gajāhvaya (Hastināpura, 'the city named for the elephant')
    Compound: gaja (elephant) + āhvaya (named). Hastināpura — 'Elephant City' — capital of the Kurus, where Yudhiṣṭhira will eventually be crowned. The poetic synonym reminds the reader of the city's gravity in the broader epic.
  • śreyaḥ-cikīrṣayā — wishing to arrange (their) welfare
    Compound: śreyas (welfare) + cikīrṣayā (desiderative instrumental). Kṛṣṇa's care for the Pāṇḍavas is not reactive — it is proactive cikīrṣā, a planned wish. He is already arranging Yudhiṣṭhira's coronation from Mathurā.
  • jijñāsā-artham — for the sake of inquiry
    Compound: jijñāsā (desiderative noun from √jñā — wish to know) + artha (purpose). The mission's official cover: a fact-finding visit. Akrūra is to gather intelligence on the Pāṇḍavas' situation under Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
  • śreyān — the very best (of well-wishers)
    Comparative-superlative of śreyas — best. Of all Kṛṣṇa's suhṛdas (named earlier in the verse), Akrūra ranks highest for this errand. The address dignifies the assignment: a high task is given only to one who has been weighed and found śreyān.
You are indeed the best of Our friends, so please go to Hastināpura and, as the well-wisher of the Pāṇḍavas, find out how they are doing.
Purport

In Sanskrit the imperative “you go” may be rendered by gacchasva or gaccha. In the second of these cases, the word following gaccha, namely sva, which is taken in the vocative sense, indicates Kṛṣṇa addressing Akrūra as “Our own.” This is in reference to Lord Kṛṣṇa’s intimate relationship with His uncle.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
You are indeed the best of Our friends, so please go to Hastināpura and, as the well-wisher of the Pāṇḍavas, find out how they are doing.
Commentary

"Because you are our well wisher (suhrdah), being an uncle, and because you act for others’ welfare (sreyan), being a devotee, you should do this. Go (gacchasva) to Hastinapura (for your benefit)." It may also be taken as gaccha sva (O relative (sva), please, go for their benefit).

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Now what Kṛṣṇa wanted to say is spoken. The word sa indicates Akrūra’s greatness as a devotee. Among us Yadus (naḥ) and among our relatives (suhṛdām) you are famous (vai) as the best. Ask how the Pāṇḍavas are faring under the shelter of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Go for that purpose.

Related values & verses
Related values
Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)Hrih (Modesty / Sense of Shame)Tejas (Inner Radiance / Vigour)
Related verses
BG 5.8 BG 15.7 BG 10.4 BG 12.3 BG 16.1 BG 12.2 BG 6.17 BG 2.60 BG 13.8 BG 7.8 BG 6.4 BG 13.1 BG 6.1 BG 3.13
Concepts
Jiva
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
You are the best of Our friends; please go to Hastināpura and, as well-wisher of the Pāṇḍavas, find out how they are doing. The Lord delegates intelligence-gathering to friends; service includes scouting.
Reflection Questions
  • Whom in your life could you 'go and see' as Kṛṣṇa's eyes on a hard situation?
  • Where does mature friendship include investigative service?
Analogy

A king with a thousand officers chooses one — the man whose discretion has been tested — to go quietly into enemy territory and report. The 'something small' Kṛṣṇa mentioned at v. 12 turns out to be Hastināpura, the Kuru capital, and the Pāṇḍavas' welfare. Akrūra is being trusted with the future of the Mahābhārata.

Stories
Vidura's parallel role

Vidura, half-brother of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Pāṇḍu, played for the Pāṇḍavas a role similar to what Akrūra is now being asked to play — a wise Yādava-affiliated counselor inside the Kuru court, watching out for the Pāṇḍavas without ever drawing a sword.

Gauḍīyas note that the chapters about Vidura (SB 3.1, 3.5–7) show him receiving Maitreya's instructions at Bhagavān's discreet arrangement. The Lord places His agents inside difficult houses; both Akrūra and Vidura are stationed where they are needed.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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