FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.60.13

अस्पष्टवर्त्मनां पुंसामलोकपथमीयुषाम् । आस्थिता: पदवीं सुभ्रु प्राय: सीदन्ति योषित: ॥ १३ ॥
aspaṣṭa-vartmanām puṁsām
[aspashta-vartmanaam pumsaam]
aloka-patham īyuṣām
[aloka-patham eeyushaam]
āsthitāḥ padavīṁ su-bhru
[aasthitaah padaveem su-bhru]
prāyaḥ sīdanti yoṣitaḥ
[praayah seedanti yoshitah]
aspaṣṭa — uncertain vartmanām — whose behavior puṁsām — of men aloka — not acceptable to ordinary society patham — way īyuṣāṁ — who take to āsthitāḥ — following padavīm — the path su - bhru — O you whose eyebrows are beautiful prāyaḥ — usually sīdanti — suffer yoṣitaḥ — women .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
aspaṣṭa-vartmanām puṁsām
aspaṣṭa
uncertain
vartmanām
whose behavior
puṁsām
of men
aloka-patham īyuṣām
aloka
not acceptable to ordinary society
patham
way
īyuṣāṁ
who take to
āsthitāḥ padavīṁ su-bhru
āsthitāḥ
following
padavīm
the path
su - bhru
O you whose eyebrows are beautiful
prāyaḥ sīdanti yoṣitaḥ
prāyaḥ
usually
sīdanti
suffer
yoṣitaḥ
women .
  • aspaṣṭa-vartmanām — of men whose behavior is uncertain
    Compound: aspaṣṭa (unclear) + vartman (path). Bhagavān's līlā does indeed look 'unclear' to materialists (cf. BG 9.11, avajānanti māṁ mūḍhāḥ). He owns the description ironically — the Vaiṣṇava path is veiled to those without bhakti.
  • aloka-patham — (on a) way not acceptable to ordinary society
    Compound: a-loka (not-worldly) + patha (way). The path of Bhagavān is precisely a-laukika — beyond worldly approval (cf. v. 36 alaukikam). The 'warning' is, doctrinally, the highest praise.
O fine-browed lady, women are usually destined to suffer when they stay with men whose behavior is uncertain and who pursue a path not approved by society.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O fine-browed lady, women are usually destined to suffer when they stay with men whose behavior is uncertain and who pursue a path not approved by society.
Commentary

"Pious women who follow the path of men like us, whose course of action is unclear, having questionable religious principles, who sometimes take others wives and at other times follow the rules of Vedic conduct, and who do not follow even common social behavior (since I offended your brother even in your presence), must almost always (prayah) suffer. If some do not suffer, it is to their credit."

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

After not receiving a reply he seems to scold her. It is not proper any woman to serve a man like me. Do I accept scripture or not, for sometimes I am seen with others’ wives and sometimes follow Vedic dharma? Do I follow the path of pravṛṭi or nivrti, since sometimes I follow the path of sacrifice and sometimes criticize it to Mucukunda and others? My path is unclear. My path is not easy to understand. Normal people perform actions for the future, and actions for the present, thinking of wives and children. That is not seen in me (aloka-patham). Women will probably or generally (prayaḥ) be disappointed in me since I insulted brothers in front of women, and left just born children unprotected (Pradyumna). What women would not become disappointed? That is their nature. I should not be served by such women.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

I am not suitable for marriage because I am so different from others. Women suffer at all times, in all ways, greatly (prāyaḥ) from such men. Or those who take shelter of unsteady men only slightly without marrying them do not suffer. By taking shelter of me with attachment you will suffer.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Udyama (Industriousness / Effort)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)
Related verses
Concepts
Dharma
Women suffer when they stay with men whose behavior is uncertain and who pursue a path not approved by society. The Lord raises social risk as another point of teasing self-deprecation.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do you fear that aligning with Kṛṣṇa puts you outside social approval?
  • How could you read the discomfort as part of the joke and the commitment?

An older relative, smiling, warns a young bride: 'Be careful — men who don't follow the standard path leave women in misery.' The warning is given by the very man whose path is non-standard — and known by both to be the only true path. The form is caution; the content is invitation.

📝 My note

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