FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.78.33

श्रीभगवानुवाच चरिष्ये वधनिर्वेशं लोकानुग्रहकाम्यया । नियम: प्रथमे कल्पे यावान् स तु विधीयताम् ॥ ३३ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
[shree-bhagavaan uvaacha]
cariṣye vadha-nirveśaṁ
[charishye vadha-nirvesham]
lokānugraha-kāmyayā
[lokaanugraha-kaamyayaa]
niyamaḥ prathame kalpe
[niyamah prathame kalpe]
yāvān sa tu vidhīyatām
[yaavaan sa tu vidheeyataam]
śrī - bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said cariṣye — I will execute vadha — for the killing nirveśam — atonement loka — for the people in general anugraha — compassion kāmyayā — desiring to show niyamaḥ — the regulative injunction prathame — in the primary kalpe — ritual yāvān — as much saḥ — that tu — indeed vidhīyatām — please prescribe .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
śrī - bhagavān uvāca
the Supreme Lord said
cariṣye
I will execute
cariṣye vadha-nirveśaṁ
vadha
for the killing
nirveśam
atonement
lokānugraha-kāmyayā
loka
for the people in general
anugraha
compassion
kāmyayā
desiring to show
niyamaḥ prathame kalpe
niyamaḥ
the regulative injunction
prathame
in the primary
kalpe
ritual
yāvān sa tu vidhīyatām
yāvān
as much
saḥ
that
tu
indeed
vidhīyatām
please prescribe .
  • cariṣye — I will perform
    Future 1sg of √car (to move, to enact). The same root that gives caritra, conduct. The Lord's first word in His response is the verb of voluntary action — He freely commits to the rite.
  • vadha-nirveśam — atonement for killing
    Vadha (killing) + nirveśa (payment, expiation). The technical śāstric term for the prāyaścitta-rite assigned to a killer. The Lord names His act as vadha and accepts the formula's name for its consequence.
  • loka-anugraha-kāmyayā — with desire to favor the people
    Loka + anugraha (favor, grace) + kāmyā (desire-driven). Kāmya-karma is action with desire — the Lord performs the rite as kāmya-karma, but His kāma is loka-anugraha. The desire-clause is the giveaway: He has no personal stake.
  • niyamaḥ — regulation / rule
    Ni- (down) + yama (restraint). The procedure. The Lord asks the sages to prescribe the niyama for Him — submitting to their authority in form, even as He retains authority in substance.
  • prathame kalpe — as the first option
    Prathama (first) + kalpa (option, alternative). Śāstric atonements come in tiered options; the first kalpa is the most rigorous. The Lord asks for the strictest tier — He will not cut Himself any slack on the prāyaścitta.
The Personality of Godhead said: I will certainly perform the atonement for this killing, since I wish to show compassion to the people in general. Please, therefore, prescribe for Me whatever ritual is to be done first.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The Personality of Godhead said: I will certainly perform the atonement for this killing, since I wish to show compassion to the people in general. Please, therefore, prescribe for Me whatever ritual is to be done first.
Commentary

I will carry out this atonement (nirvesam) for killing the brahmana.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

You should prescribe the vow that must be done first. There is no alternative.

Related values
Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Discriminative WisdomShanti (Peace / Tranquility)Seva (Service / Selfless Action)Saurya (Heroism / Bravery)Samata (Equanimity / Even-mindedness)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)
Related verses
'I will certainly perform the atonement, since I wish to show compassion to the people. Prescribe for Me the ritual.' The Lord places Himself under the sages' guidance for the sake of others.
Reflection Questions
  • Where could I place myself under another's guidance for the sake of those who watch?
  • What humility does compassion require of me?

Cariṣye — 'I shall perform.' The Lord accepts the ritual. He who needs no purification freely submits to its motions, because compassion for lokas is the same word as compassion for forms. Balarāma's yes here is structurally identical to Kṛṣṇa's 'sarva-dharmān parityajya' — both presuppose that the One in charge of dharma freely chooses His relation to dharma's forms.

📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 78