FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.68.26

चामरव्यजने शङ्खमातपत्रं च पाण्डुरम् । किरीटमासनं शय्यां भुञ्जतेऽस्मदुपेक्षया ॥ २६ ॥
cāmara-vyajane śaṅkham
[chaamara-vyajane shankham]
ātapatraṁ ca pāṇḍuram
[aatapatram cha paanduram]
kirīṭam āsanaṁ śayyāṁ
[kireetam aasanam shayyaam]
bhuñjate ’smad-upekṣayā
[bhunjate ’smad-upekshayaa]
Word-for-word
cāmara — of yak-tail hair vyajane — pair of fans śaṅkham — conchshell ātapatram — umbrella ca — and pāṇḍuram — white kirīṭam — crown āsanam — throne śayyām — royal bed bhuñjate — they enjoy asmat — by our upekṣayā — overlooking .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
cāmara-vyajane śaṅkham
cāmara
of yak-tail hair
vyajane
pair of fans
śaṅkham
conchshell
ātapatraṁ ca pāṇḍuram
ātapatram
umbrella
ca
and
pāṇḍuram
white
kirīṭam āsanaṁ śayyāṁ
kirīṭam
crown
āsanam
throne
śayyām
royal bed
bhuñjate ’smad-upekṣayā
bhuñjate
they enjoy
asmat
by our
upekṣayā
overlooking .
Important Words
  • cāmara - vyajane — the pair of yak-tail fans
    Cāmara — the white fan of royalty, also used in deity-worship. The Yādavas' royal symbols are the same emblems used to fan Kṛṣṇa's deity-form. The Kurus do not realize whose paraphernalia they are belittling.
  • śaṅkham — the conchshell
    Pañcajanya is Kṛṣṇa's own conch. To grant the Yādavas the right to a conch is, in Kuru reckoning, magnanimity; in truth Kṛṣṇa Himself is the source of every conch in every sabhā.
  • upekṣayā — by our overlooking
    From upa-īkṣ, 'looking past.' The Kurus imagine their inattention is the Yadus' privilege. Inattention will soon become its mirror — Balarāma will overlook their pleas only briefly.
Only because we looked the other way could they enjoy the pair of yak-tail fans and the conchshell, white umbrella, throne, and royal bed.
Purport

Śrīla Prabhupāda writes that the Kurus were thinking, “They [the Yadus] should not have used such royal paraphernalia in our presence, but we did not check them due to our family relationships.” By using the words asmad-upekṣayā, the Kurus mean to say, “They were able to use these royal insignia because we did not take the matter seriously.” As explained by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the Kurus thought, “Showing concern about their use of these items would have been a sign of respect, but in fact we do not have such respect for them.… Since they are of inferior families, they are not to be respected, and so we pay no regard to them.”

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Only because we looked the other way could they enjoy the pair of yak-tail fans and the conchshell, white umbrella, throne, and royal bed.
Commentary

We do not have regard, which is a symptom of respect. Rather we have disregard (upeksa) which is a sign of disrespect. Not respecting them because of their low family, we disregard their audacious acts.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

They enjoy fanning by two cāmaras.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

They enjoy royal services. Since they are unqualified, they cannot enjoy them, unless we allow exceptions.

Related values & verses
Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Dana (Charity / Generosity)Prema (Divine Love)
Related verses
BG 9.1 BG 4.8 BG 15.20 BG 15.7 BG 2.62 BG 3.11 BG 12.3 BG 16.1 BG 3.19 BG 3.30 BG 7.1 BG 2.66 BG 12.5 BG 2.60 BG 13.8 BG 7.8
Concepts
Jiva
Personal Guidance
The Kurus said they had 'looked the other way' as the Vṛṣṇis used royal symbols. Pretending that tolerance was generosity, while seething inside, is a recipe for sudden ugly outbursts.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I 'looking the other way' while building up resentment?
  • What honest conversation would let me stop quietly seething?
Analogy

A guard at the palace gate who claims credit for the king's silks because he 'lets them in' — the Kurus claim credit for the Yadus' royal symbols by saying they merely 'overlooked' them.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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