FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.80.24

अन्त:पुरजनो द‍ृष्ट्वा कृष्णेनामलकीर्तिना । विस्मितोऽभूदतिप्रीत्या अवधूतं सभाजितम् ॥ २४ ॥
antaḥ-pura-jano dṛṣṭvā
[antah-pura-jano drishtvaa]
kṛṣṇenāmala-kīrtinā
[krishnenaamala-keertinaa]
vismito ’bhūd ati-prītyā
[vismito ’bhood ati-preetyaa]
avadhūtaṁ sabhājitam
[avadhootam sabhaajitam]
antaḥ - pura — of the royal palace janaḥ — the people dṛṣṭvā — seeing kṛṣṇena — by Lord Kṛṣṇa amala — spotless kīrtinā — whose fame vismitaḥ — amazed abhūt — they became ati — intense prītyā — with loving affection avadhūtam — the unkempt brāhmaṇa sabhājitam — honored .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
antaḥ-pura-jano dṛṣṭvā
antaḥ - pura
of the royal palace
janaḥ
the people
dṛṣṭvā
seeing
kṛṣṇenāmala-kīrtinā
kṛṣṇena
by Lord Kṛṣṇa
amala
spotless
kīrtinā
whose fame
vismito ’bhūd ati-prītyā
vismitaḥ
amazed
avadhūtaṁ sabhājitam
abhūt
they became
ati
intense
prītyā
with loving affection
avadhūtam
the unkempt brāhmaṇa
sabhājitam
honored .
  • antaḥ - pura — of the royal palace
    Compound: antar (inner) + pura (city). The inner apartments of the palace — household members, queens' attendants. Gauḍīyas note: the witnesses are not strangers; they are Kṛṣṇa's intimate household, and even they are surprised.
  • amala — spotless
    Adjective: stainless, pure. Kṛṣṇa's kīrti is amala because nothing about His honoring of the brāhmaṇa contradicts His glory — quite the opposite. Gauḍīyas note: bhakta-vatsalya is the glory, not a derogation of it.
  • vismitaḥ — amazed
    Past participle of vi-√smi. Vismaya — the rasa of wonder. Gauḍīyas note: vismaya is the door rasa into adbhuta-rasa, and from there into the recognition that Kṛṣṇa's mādhurya exceeds all categories.
  • avadhūtam — the unkempt brāhmaṇa
    Past participle of ava-√dhū — 'shaken off.' Avadhūta in śāstra is one who has shaken off all worldly distinctions. The palace sees only his outer ku-caila; the Lord sees his interior avadhūtatva.
  • sabhājitam — honored
    Past participle of saṁ-√bhāj. Sabhājana — honored, welcomed. The same root as bhakti; here the Lord bhajatis His friend — the verb of bhakti turns inside-out, with Bhagavān as the worshiper.
The people in the royal palace were astonished to see Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of spotless glory, so lovingly honor this shabbily dressed brāhmaṇa.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The people in the royal palace were astonished to see Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of spotless glory, so lovingly honor this shabbily dressed brāhmaṇa.
Commentary

He was served by Krsna who has spotless glory (amala kirtina), served by all wealth, was able to deliver Sudama from his poverty stricken state with his soiled clothing (avadhutam).

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Seeing the renounced person being worshipped by Kṛṣṇa the people were astonished.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Since the Lord was worshipped by the devotees, he should not have worshipped the renounced brāhmaṇa (amala-kīrtinā). He was moreover directly the supreme Lord (kṛṣṇeṇa) and he worshipped with great prema. Seeing the worship, people of all sorts (janaḥ) were astonished. Śrīdāma’s body was discolored (avadhūtam) or his characteristics could not be seen though he was a household.

Related values
Daya (Compassion / Mercy)Adambhitva (Non-hypocrisy / Authenticity)Vairagya (Detachment / Dispassion)Tejas (Inner Radiance / Vigour)Discriminative Wisdom
Related verses
Concepts
Jiva
The palace people were astonished that Kṛṣṇa so lovingly honored this shabby brāhmaṇa. Bhakti's logic is incomprehensible to social calculus.
Reflection Questions
  • Where does my own honoring follow social calculus rather than bhakti's logic?
  • What public expression of honor would scandalize my circle in a good way?

Watching a crown change heads in a marketplace: the palace residents see a ragged man being treated as a deity, and their established categories crack. The verse is a snapshot of vismaya — wonder — that opens space for the truth they are about to articulate.

📝 My note

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