Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.89.21
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
-
dvāravatyām
—
in Dvārakā
Locative of Dvāravatī. Kṛṣṇa's own city — the kingdom where Yādavas administer, the four Vyūhas reside, and yet a brāhmaṇa's son dies at birth. The Bhāgavatam sets up the apparent contradiction that the chapter will resolve.
-
vipra-patnyāḥ
—
of the brāhmaṇa's wife
Compound: vipra (brāhmaṇa) + patnī (wife). The casualty is from the protected class. Gauḍīyas note that the offense against a brāhmaṇa structures the whole vyākhyāna — the king's first duty is brahmaṇa-rakṣaṇa.
-
jāta-mātraḥ
—
as soon as he was born
Compound: jāta (born) + mātra (only, just). The cruelty is precise: not a moment of life before death. The verse refuses to soften the loss.
-
bhārata
—
O descendant of Bharata
Vocative addressed to Parīkṣit. Śuka uses this address often when introducing episodes that test a king's reign — Parīkṣit, himself a king, is being asked to attend.
In this chapter Lord Viṣṇu has been glorified as the Supreme Godhead. Now Śukadeva Gosvāmī is going to identify Lord Kṛṣṇa with that same Personality of Godhead by describing another pastime of His, one which highlighted His unequaled, divine characteristics.
Having explained the supreme position of Visnu, now he relates one story to explain the even greater position of Krsna.
The story just told shows Viṣṇu’s excellence, but this culminates in Svayam Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa. Śukadeva now tells a story to show particularly the supreme position of Kṛṣṇa. The word tu makes distinction. Kila means it is well known everywhere. This means one should not think “This is impossible to happen in the residence of the Lord.”
I offer respects to the Lord, the dear friend of Arjuna. Having thus spoken, Śukadeva speaks to show that the excellence of Viṣṇu culminates in Kṛṣṇa, the source of the avatāras, who reveals unlimited qualities of bhagavān. Another story is told to show the special glories of Kṛṣṇa directly. As soon as the child was born, when it touched the ground, it died. Kila means it is well known everywhere. This means one should not think “This is impossible to happen in the city of the Lord.” O Bhārata! Please pay attention in order to hear this amazing story. Or the Lord protected you in the womb from the brahmāstra in order to protect the root of the Bhārata dynasty. He could not have intentionally left the brāhmaṇa’s child unprotected, since he was a resident of his city, Dvārakā. Understand that everything was arranged for special pastimes to increase prema of his dear devotee. This becomes clear later.
- What grief have I had in a 'spiritual' place that confused me?
- Where do I assume God's presence means absence of pain?
A brāhmaṇa's child dies the instant he touches the ground — birth and death telescoped into one breath. Dvārakā, the city of Kṛṣṇa, will be confronted with the most basic theological scandal: where was Bhagavān when His brāhmaṇa's son died? The chapter is now done with celestial parīkṣā; the test moves to the streets.
My note
Source: vedabase.io