SB 10.68.39 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.68.39

अहो ऐश्वर्यमत्तानां मत्तानामिव मानिनाम् । असम्बद्धा गिरो रुक्षा: क: सहेतानुशासिता ॥ ३९ ॥

aho aiśvarya-mattānāṁ

[aho aishvarya-mattaanaam]

mattānām iva māninām

[mattaanaam iva maaninaam]

asambaddhā giṛo rukṣāḥ

[asambaddhaa girio rukshaah]

kaḥ sahetānuśāsītā

[kah sahetaanushaaseetaa]

Word-for-word

aho — ah aiśvarya — with their ruling power mattānām — of those who are mad mattānām — of those who are physically intoxicated iva — as if māninām — who are proud asambaddhāḥ — incoherent and absurd giraḥ — words rukṣāḥ — harsh kaḥ — who saheta — can tolerate anuśāsītā — commander .

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

aho aiśvarya-mattānāṁ

aho

aiśvarya

with their ruling power

mattānām

of those who are mad

mattānām iva māninām

mattānām

of those who are physically intoxicated

iva

as if

māninām

who are proud

asambaddhā giṛo rukṣāḥ

asambaddhāḥ

incoherent and absurd

giraḥ

words

rukṣāḥ

harsh

kaḥ sahetānuśāsītā

kaḥ

who

saheta

can tolerate

anuśāsītā

commander .

Important Words

aiśvarya - mattānām — of those mad with their ruling power
Aiśvarya = lordliness, opulence; matta = intoxicated. A specific subspecies of pride: not money-mad but power-mad. The most common disease of kings.
anuśāsītā — the actual commander
From anu-śās — 'one who instructs and rules.' Balarāma's identity emerging plainly. The cosmic anuśāsītā has been patient; He now identifies Himself as such.

“Just see how these puffed-up Kurus are intoxicated with their so-called power, like ordinary drunken men! What actual ruler, with the power to command, would tolerate their foolish, nasty words?

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

"Just see how these puffed-up Kurus are intoxicated with their so-called power, like ordinary drunken men! What actual ruler, with the power to command, would tolerate their foolish, nasty words?

Commentary

Having joked with sarcastic words, Balarama now speaks the facts in one and a half verses. "What punisher such as myself can tolerate such rough, inappropriate words from proud people bewildered by their power as if intoxicated with wine. Let others tolerate, but not me."

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya

Commentary

They have lost all discrimination because of wealth (aiśvarya-mattānām). They are proud (māninām). They have no respect for rules (sambaddhāḥ). Moreover they are rough in choice of words and meaning of the words. A ruler cannot tolerate these words. Otherwise there would be no control.

Related values & verses

Related values

Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)

Personal Guidance

The drunken pride of the Kauravas could not be tolerated by any real ruler. Some forms of folly must finally be answered with firm action; endless tolerance becomes complicity.

Reflection Questions

Where has my tolerance crossed into complicity with someone's harmful pride?
What firm-but-loving action might be the right next step?

Analogy

Drunkards in a tavern speaking nonsense are tolerated until they begin issuing decrees — at which point the actual ruler must stand up. Balarāma stands.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io