Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.68.20
बन्धून् कुशलिन: श्रुत्वा पृष्ट्वा शिवमनामयम् ।
परस्परमथो रामो बभाषेऽविक्लवं वच: ॥ २० ॥
bandhūn kuśalinaḥ śrutvā
[bandhoon kushalinah shrutvaa]
pṛṣṭvā śivam anāmayam
[prishtvaa shivam anaamayam]
parasparam atho rāmo
[parasparam atho raamo]
babhāṣe ’viklavaṁ vacaḥ
[babhaashe ’viklavam vachah]
Word-for-word
bandhūn
—
their relatives
kuśalinaḥ
—
doing well
śrutvā
—
hearing
pṛṣṭvā
—
inquiring
śivam
—
about their welfare
anāmayam
—
and health
parasparam
—
among one another
atha u
—
thereupon
rāmaḥ
—
Lord Balarāma
babhāṣe
—
spoke
aviklavam
—
forthrightly
vacaḥ
—
words .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
bandhūn kuśalinaḥ śrutvā
bandhūn
their relatives
kuśalinaḥ
doing well
śrutvā
hearing
pṛṣṭvā śivam anāmayam
pṛṣṭvā
inquiring
śivam
about their welfare
anāmayam
and health
parasparam atho rāmo
parasparam
among one another
atha u
thereupon
rāmaḥ
Lord Balarāma
babhāṣe ’viklavaṁ vacaḥ
babhāṣe
spoke
aviklavam
forthrightly
vacaḥ
words .
Important Words
-
kuśalinaḥ
—
doing well
Kuśala — the standard greeting-word of Vedic kings, asking after welfare. Even on a tense mission, Balarāma honors hospitality fully before raising the issue.
-
aviklavam
—
forthrightly, without hesitation
From a-vi-klav, 'not faltering, not bewildered.' Balarāma's speech is plain — no diplomatic evasion, no concealed threat. The elder speaks straight.
After both parties had heard that their relatives were doing well and both had inquired into each other’s welfare and health, Lord Balarāma forthrightly spoke to the Kurus as follows.
Purport
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “They all exchanged words of reception by asking one another of their welfare, and when such formality was finished, Lord Balarāma, in a great voice and very patiently, submitted before them the following words for their consideration.”
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
After both parties had heard that their relatives were doing well and both had inquired into each other's welfare and health, Lord Balarāma forthrightly spoke to the Kurus as follows.
Commentary
Both sides heard and asked about friends’ welfare.
Jīva Gosvāmī
Gauḍīya
Commentary
They mutually asked and then heard about their relatives’ welfare and health. After that, without fear (aviklava) Balarāma spoke
Related values & verses
Related values
Prema (Divine Love)Bhakti (Devotion)
Concepts
JivaRasa
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
After mutual welfare inquiries, Balarāma spoke directly to the matter at hand. There is a time for pleasantries and a time for clarity; mature relationships make space for both.
Reflection Questions
- Where am I stuck in pleasantries when a direct conversation is overdue?
- What would it take to speak the necessary thing kindly but clearly?
Analogy
After the customary inquiries — 'are your people well, are your fields well?' — the elder rises and speaks his real errand. Balarāma observes courtesy first, then comes directly to the matter of Sāmba.
My note
Source: vedabase.io