SB 10.57.40 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.57.40

एवं सामभिरालब्ध: श्वफल्कतनयो मणिम् । आदाय वाससाच्छन्न: ददौ सूर्यसमप्रभम् ॥ ४० ॥

evaṁ sāmabhir ālabdhaḥ

[evam saamabhir aalabdhah]

śvaphalka-tanayo maṇim

[shvaphalka-tanayo manim]

ādāya vāsasācchannaḥ

[aadaaya vaasasaachchannah]

dadau sūrya-sama-prabham

[dadau soorya-sama-prabham]

Word-for-word

evam — thus sāmabhiḥ — with conciliatory words ālabdhaḥ — reproached śvaphalka - tanayaḥ — the son of Śvaphalka maṇim — the Syamantaka jewel ādāya — taking vāsasā — in his garment ācchannaḥ — concealed dadau — he gave sūrya — to the sun sama — equal prabham — in effulgence .

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

evaṁ sāmabhir ālabdhaḥ

evam

thus

sāmabhiḥ

with conciliatory words

ālabdhaḥ

reproached

śvaphalka-tanayo maṇim

śvaphalka - tanayaḥ

the son of Śvaphalka

maṇim

the Syamantaka jewel

ādāya vāsasācchannaḥ

ādāya

taking

vāsasā

in his garment

ācchannaḥ

concealed

dadau sūrya-sama-prabham

dadau

he gave

sūrya

to the sun

sama

equal

prabham

in effulgence .

Important Words

sāmabhiḥ ālabdhaḥ — addressed with conciliatory words
Instrumental of sāman (the gentle / soothing approach, one of the four upāyas — sāma, dāna, bheda, daṇḍa) + past participle of ā-√labh. Kṛṣṇa uses sāman, not daṇḍa. Gauḍīyas treat this as the Bhāgavata's preferred upāya among bhaktas: gentle words first.
śvaphalka - tanayaḥ — the son of Śvaphalka
Compound: Śvaphalka (his father) + tanaya (son). The verse calls Akrūra by his father's name at the moment of his recovery — a reminder of the lineage of bhakti he has come from and is returning to.
ācchannaḥ — concealed
Past participle of ā-√chad. The word for the cloth concealment. Bhāgavata's word-economy: the very root that means 'to cover' is used both for the dharma-cloth and the chāyā of māyā. Gauḍīyas read the resonance: even devotees' concealments are uncovered by Bhagavān.
sūrya - sama - prabham — with effulgence equal to the sun
Compound: sūrya (sun) + sama (equal) + prabhā (effulgence). The Syamantaka was described in chapter 56 as sun-like. Gauḍīyas note: the gem's prabhā cannot remain hidden — its very nature is to shine. Confession is the gem's restoration to its own quality.

Thus shamed by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s conciliatory words, the son of Śvaphalka brought out the jewel from where he had concealed it in his clothing and gave it to the Lord. The brilliant gem shone like the sun.

Purport

We can see in this chapter how a valuable jewel caused so much intrigue, violence and suffering. This is certainly a good lesson for those who desire a trouble-free spiritual life.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

Thus shamed by Lord Kṛṣṇa's conciliatory words, the son of Śvaphalka brought out the jewel from where he had concealed it in his clothing and gave it to the Lord. The brilliant gem shone like the sun.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya

Commentary

Because he was the son of a great sage Śvaphalka, he became ashamed. He gave Kṛṣṇa the gem shining like the sun even when covered by his cloth.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya

Commentary

Because he was the son of a sage, he was not interested in the jewel. He also understood the intentions of the Lord. He took the jewel covered by a cloth he wore or other cloth in his hands and gave it to Kṛṣṇa’s hands. Uncovered, it shone like the sun.

Related values & verses

Related values

Shraddha (Faith / Reverence)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Bhakti (Devotion)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)

Related lectures

Padaseva Pr SB 10-57-40 Oriya
His Grace Padaseva Prabhu· Oriya

Personal Guidance

Shamed by Kṛṣṇa's conciliatory words, Akrūra brings out the jewel from his clothing and gives it to the Lord — it shines like the sun. Even the complicit are won by conciliatory speech; shame produces what threat would not.

Reflection Questions

Where could conciliation produce what threat has failed to extract?
How does shame yield what defiance withholds?

Analogy

Akrūra brings the gem out from his garment — the same fold of cloth that had hidden it now becomes the platform of its revelation. Gauḍīyas read this as the structure of every confession: the cloth that conceals is itself the cloth in which the confessing offering is made.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io