FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.56.40-42

सोऽनुध्यायंस्तदेवाघं बलवद्विग्रहाकुल: । कथं मृजाम्यात्मरज: प्रसीदेद् वाच्युत: कथम् ॥ ४० ॥ किं कृत्वा साधु मह्यं स्यान्न शपेद् वा जनो यथा । अदीर्घदर्शनं क्षुद्रं मूढं द्रविणलोलुपम् ॥ ४१ ॥ दास्ये दुहितरं तस्मै स्‍त्रीरत्नं रत्नमेव च । उपायोऽयं समीचीनस्तस्य शान्तिर्न चान्यथा ॥ ४२ ॥
so ’nudhyāyaṁs tad evāghaṁ
[so ’nudhyaayams tad evaagham]
balavad-vigrahākulaḥ
[balavad-vigrahaakulah]
kathaṁ mṛjāmy ātma-rajaḥ
[katham mrijaamy aatma-rajah]
prasīded vācyutaḥ katham
[praseeded vaachyutah katham]
kim kṛtvā sādhu mahyaṁ syān
[kim kritvaa saadhu mahyam syaan]
na śaped vā jano yathā
[na shaped vaa jano yathaa]
adīrgha-darśanaṁ kṣudraṁ
[adeergha-darshanam kshudram]
mūḍhaṁ draviṇa-lolupam
[moodham dravina-lolupam]
dāsye duhitaraṁ tasmai
[daasye duhitaram tasmai]
strī-ratnaṁ ratnam eva ca
[stree-ratnam ratnam eva cha]
upāyo ’yaṁ samīcīnas
[upaayo ’yam sameecheenas]
tasya śāntir na cānyathā
[tasya shaantir na chaanyathaa]
Word-for-word
saḥ — he anudhyāyan — pondering over tat — that eva — indeed agham — offense bala - vat — with those who are powerful vigraha — about a conflict ākulaḥ — worried katham — how mṛjāmi — will I cleanse ātma — of myself rajaḥ — the contamination prasīdet — may become satisfied vā — or acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa katham — how kim — what kṛtvā — doing sādhu — good mahyam — for me syāt — there may be na śapet — may not curse vā — or janaḥ — the people yathā — so as adīrgha — short-ranged darśanam — whose vision kṣudram — petty mūḍham — befooled draviṇa — after wealth lolupam — avaricious dāsye — I will give duhitaram — my daughter tasmai — to Him strī — of women ratnam — the jewel ratnam — the jewel eva ca — as well upāyaḥ — means ayam — this samīcīnaḥ — effective tasya — His śāntiḥ — pacification na — not ca — and anyathā — otherwise .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
so ’nudhyāyaṁs tad evāghaṁ
balavad-vigrahākulaḥ
kathaṁ mṛjāmy ātma-rajaḥ
prasīded vācyutaḥ katham
kim kṛtvā sādhu mahyaṁ syān
saḥ
he
anudhyāyan
pondering over
na śaped vā jano yathā
adīrgha-darśanaṁ kṣudraṁ
mūḍhaṁ draviṇa-lolupam
dāsye duhitaraṁ tasmai
tat
that
strī-ratnaṁ ratnam eva ca
eva
indeed
agham
offense
bala - vat
with those who are powerful
vigraha
about a conflict
ākulaḥ
worried
katham
how
mṛjāmi
will I cleanse
upāyo ’yaṁ samīcīnas
tasya śāntir na cānyathā
ātma
of myself
rajaḥ
the contamination
prasīdet
may become satisfied
vā
or
acyutaḥ
Lord Kṛṣṇa
katham
how
kim
what
kṛtvā
doing
sādhu
good
mahyam
for me
syāt
there may be
na śapet
may not curse
vā
or
janaḥ
the people
yathā
so as
adīrgha
short-ranged
darśanam
whose vision
kṣudram
petty
mūḍham
befooled
draviṇa
after wealth
lolupam
avaricious
dāsye
I will give
duhitaram
my daughter
tasmai
to Him
strī
of women
ratnam
the jewel
ratnam
the jewel
eva ca
as well
upāyaḥ
means
ayam
this
samīcīnaḥ
effective
tasya
His
śāntiḥ
pacification
na
not
ca
and
anyathā
otherwise .
Important Words
  • agham — offense
    Same word used for the demon Aghāsura earlier in the canto. The offense and the demon share the name — to commit agha is to host the demon, to repent of agha is to do what Kṛṣṇa did to Aghāsura: enter and dismantle it from within.
  • mṛjāmi ātma-rajaḥ — I will cleanse my own contamination
    Compound idea: mṛj (cleanse) + ātma (self) + rajaḥ (dust, contamination). The chapter's recurring verb of cleaning returns one final time — on the lips of the offender. Bhāgavata structure: the verb passes from Bhagavān to devotee.
  • acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa, the infallible
    From a (not) + √cyu (fall). 'He who never falls' — and never lets His devotee fall. Satrājit names Bhagavān with this name precisely when wondering whether he can be forgiven: a precise theological choice, because acyutas refuse to let surrendered souls slip.
  • strī-ratnam — jewel of women
    Compound: strī (woman) + ratna (jewel). The chapter doubles the word ratna deliberately — both the gem and Satyabhāmā are called ratna. Bhagavān's true wealth is His devotees; the mineral wealth is secondary.
  • śāntiḥ — pacification
    From √śam. The chapter's resolution-word. Bhagavān's śānti — His being mollified — is the only thing Satrājit now wants. Gauḍīya bhakti: when bhagavat-śānti is the only remaining desire, the soul has crossed.
Pondering over his grievous offense and worried about the possibility of conflict with the Lord’s mighty devotees, King Satrājit thought, “How can I cleanse myself of my contamination, and how may Lord Acyuta become satisfied with me? What can I do to regain my good fortune and avoid being cursed by the populace for being so short-sighted, miserly, foolish and avaricious? I shall give my daughter, the jewel of all women, to the Lord, together with the Syamantaka jewel. That, indeed, is the only proper way to pacify Him.”
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Pondering over his grievous offense and worried about the possibility of conflict with the Lord's mighty devotees, King Satrājit thought, "How can I cleanse myself of my contamination, and how may Lord Acyuta become satisfied with me? What can I do to regain my good fortune and avoid being cursed by the populace for being so short-sighted, miserly, foolish and avaricious? I shall give my daughter, the jewel of all women, to the Lord, together with the Syamantaka jewel. That, indeed, is the only proper way to pacify Him."
Commentary

Worried about strife with strong followers of Krsna, he began to think. His thoughts are described in two and half verses.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

He thought continually (anu-dhyāyan) about his sin, and because it was a great sin, he thought of only that (eva) and nothing else. He was overcome with anxiety about conflict with the powerful Lord (balavat) or his devotees because of spreading the rumor. His thoughts are then described. Kṛṣṇa does not deviate from his nature (acyutaḥ). How can I please him? All the people (janaḥ) should not curse me because my bad qualities such as being short-sighted. Thus, this jewel is not suitable for mortals like me. I am low. Therefore though I have obtained it, I should offer the jewel to the Lord. Though he asked for it, I was foolish (mūḍhaḥ) and stooped to defaming him. All these qualities have arisen because I was greedy for wealth. “How will he be satisfied with your daughter and become peaceful?” His peace, his (tasya) dissipation of sorrow, or the atonement for my offense (tasya), will result from giving the jewel of my daughter and the Syamantaka jewel. No other means, such as killing myself, will produce this atonement.

Related values & verses
Related values
Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Bhakti (Devotion)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Nyaya (Justice / Righteous Judgment)Apaishunam (Non-slander)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)
Related verses
BG 14.1 BG 9.11 BG 12.6 BG 17.3 BG 5.18 BG 18.1 BG 18.64 BG 10.3 BG 10.4 BG 5.12 BG 7.8
Concepts
Darshana
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Pondering his offense and possible conflict with Kṛṣṇa's devotees, Satrājit thinks: 'How can I cleanse myself and please Acyuta?' Plan-making after offense is part of repentance; specific outreach is required.
Reflection Questions
  • What plan-making has been waiting after a recent offense in your life?
  • Whom would you need to please specifically to cleanse the relationship?
Analogy

Satrājit makes the same calculation the chapter has been making for him — give the daughter, give the jewel, end the rift. He has finally found the answer: Bhagavān can be appeased only by full surrender. The arithmetic of bhakti has, at last, been worked out on his slate.

Stories
Ambarīṣa Mahārāja's atonement

When Durvāsā cursed Mahārāja Ambarīṣa after a fast-day quarrel, the Sudarśana cakra chased Durvāsā across the three worlds. Durvāsā fled to Brahmā, to Śiva, and finally to Viṣṇu — who told him to return to Ambarīṣa and beg the devotee's forgiveness.

The Bhāgavata's logic, repeated here: offenses against Bhagavān's plan must be atoned by going to His devotees. Satrājit chooses correctly — Kṛṣṇa Himself. The path Durvāsā learned the hard way.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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