Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.89.59
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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pūrṇa-kāmau
—
(you two are) fully fulfilled in desires
Compound: pūrṇa (full) + kāma (desire). Mahā-Viṣṇu states that both Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna are without unfulfilled desire — and still must enact dharma. Gauḍīyas note: action is not driven by lack but by līlā.
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nara-nārāyaṇau ṛṣī
—
the two sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa
Compound phrase. Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna are named as Nara-Nārāyaṇa. The Bhāgavatam will return to this identification at SB 10.87 and Mahābhārata multiple times — the pair is permanent.
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dharmam-ācaratām
—
you two should practice dharma
Compound: dharma + ācaratām (let both practice). Imperative dual. Even the topmost Persons enact dharma — the precise teaching of BG 3.21–22 (yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhaḥ).
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loka-saṅgraham
—
the maintenance of the people
Compound: loka (people) + saṅgraha (holding together). The technical term from BG 3.20. Mahā-Viṣṇu cites this Gītā concept directly back at Arjuna, who first heard it from Kṛṣṇa on Kurukṣetra.
Follow dharma (acaratam) to teach others. Acaratam is used for acaratam.
“Since we two are perfect in all ways, how can we be devoted to serving brāhmaṇas?” By your mercy you establish dharma. He proves this conclusion by giving an example. You are the best of all those who appear on earth (ṛṣabhau). Therefore you are full in your desires (pūrṇa-kāmau). You should enact dharma to teach the people, to protect everyone (sthityai). Nara and Nārāyaṇa are your aṁśas. In that form you protect dharma. Kṛṣṇa says to Uddhava nārāyaṇo munīnām: I am Nārāyaṇa among the sages. (SB 11.16.25) If that is so, then what to speak of your activities directly as Bhagavān? Ācaratām (perform) does not mean that they should practice to become perfect. “Come and merge with me (Mahāviṣnu)” and “become Nāra-nārāyana and practice dharma” are both contrary to the traditional understanding.
And as long as you are there on earth, maintain your conduct according to dharma to teach the people since you are complete in your desires. You are sages (ṛṣī), having extraordinary qualities. You should remain on earth to protect the people. Why? You should make the people follow dharma (loka-sangraham). Protect them by promoting dharma. Why? You are the best of all people (ṛṣabhau). Yad yad ācarati śresṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ: whatever the great people do the others follow. (BG 3.21) Or since you two are a wealth of all sweetness, desiring to see you, I brought the sons of the brāhmaṇa here. To be able to see you always, you should come here again quickly, or you should come here often. “If we come here, dharma will not be protected.” Your expansions have appeared on earth (kalāvatīrṇau). You should remain on earth in those forms to protect my dharma. “Who should protect dharma? Or how should the two protect dharma?” Being complete in yourselves, execute dharma. The two (yuvām) are accepted as Nara and Nārānaya, since the aṁśas (Nara and Nārāyaṇa) and the aṁśīs (Arjjuna and Kṛsṇa) are considered non-different. Your aṁśas should perform dharma. By their performing dharma you will serve to protect dharma.
- What could I do today not from need but from fullness?
- Where am I caught in needing instead of giving?
Mahā-Viṣṇu addresses Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna as Nara-Nārāyaṇa — the eternal sage-pair of Badarikāśrama — and tells them to continue exemplifying religious behavior for the sake of loka-saṅgraha. The chapter cross-references SB 5.19 and BG 3.20–25 in one breath: pūrṇa-kāmas still act, for the world's sake.
The two sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa perform unending austerities at Badarī, the Bhāgavatam tells us in multiple cantos (SB 4.1.59, 5.19, 11.4). They are the prototype of bhakta and Bhagavān eternally side by side — Nara serves, Nārāyaṇa is served.
Mahā-Viṣṇu names Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna here as the same pair in another body. Gauḍīyas treat this verse as the formal disclosure of Arjuna's identity: he is not merely a Pāṇḍava but Nara, the eternal companion-jīva of Bhagavān.
My note
Source: vedabase.io