FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.18.29

बुधो बालकवत् क्रीडेत् कुशलो जडवच्चरेत् । वदेदुन्मत्तवद् विद्वान् गोचर्यां नैगमश्चरेत् ॥ २९ ॥
budho bālaka-vat krīḍet
[budho baalaka-vat kreedet]
kuśalo jaḍa-vac caret
[kushalo jada-vach charet]
vaded unmatta-vad vidvān
[vaded unmatta-vad vidvaan]
go-caryāṁ naigamaś caret
[go-charyaam naigamash charet]
Word-for-word
budhaḥ — although intelligent bālaka-vat — like a child (oblivious to honor and dishonor) krīḍet — he should enjoy life kuśalaḥ — although expert jaḍa-vat — like a stunted person caret — he should act vadet — he should speak unmatta-vat — like an insane person vidvān — although most learned go-caryām — unrestricted behavior naigamaḥ — although expert in Vedic injunctions caret — he should perform.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
budho bālaka-vat krīḍet
budhaḥ
although intelligent
bālaka-vat
like a child (oblivious to honor and dishonor)
krīḍet
he should enjoy life
kuśalo jaḍa-vac caret
kuśalaḥ
although expert
jaḍa-vat
like a stunted person
caret
he should act
vaded unmatta-vad vidvān
vadet
he should speak
unmatta-vat
like an insane person
vidvān
although most learned
go-caryāṁ naigamaś caret
go-caryām
unrestricted behavior
naigamaḥ
although expert in Vedic injunctions
caret
he should perform.
Although most wise, the paramahaṁsa should enjoy life like a child, oblivious to honor and dishonor; although most expert, he should behave like a stunted, incompetent person; although most learned, he should speak like an insane person; and although a scholar learned in Vedic regulations, he should behave in an unrestricted manner.
Purport

A paramahaṁsa-sannyāsī, fearing that his mind may be deviated by the tremendous prestige that people sometimes offer to a perfectly self-realized person, conceals his position as described in this verse. A self-realized person does not try to please the mass of people, nor does he desire social prestige, since the mission of his life is to remain detached from the material world and to always please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although neglecting ordinary rules and regulations, a paramahaṁsa does not ever become sinful or immoral, but rather neglects ritualistic aspects of religious custom, such as dressing in a particular way, performing certain ceremonies or executing specific penances and austerities.

The pure devotees of the Lord who have dedicated their lives to propagating the Lord’s holy name must very expertly present Kṛṣṇa consciousness in a way pleasing to the mass of people so that they will accept it. Those who are preaching should try to make Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa popular without trying to advance their personal prestige in the name of missionary progress. A paramahaṁsa not engaged in distributing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, however, should have no attachment whatsoever to public opinion.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Although most wise, the paramahaṁsa should play like a child; although most expert, he should behave like an incompetent person; although most learned, he should speak like an insane person; and although a scholar learned in Vedic regulations, he should behave in an unrestricted manner. Fearing disturbance from getting recognition from the public, he does not reveal himself. Though learned in the meaning of the Vedas (naigamaḥ) he does not follow the rules.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Most wise but child-like, most expert but seeming incompetent, most learned but speaking like a madman, most scholarly but acting like a bumpkin — the paramahaṁsa hides his excellence. The protective covering of humility is itself the realization.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I show off excellence the paramahaṁsa would conceal?
  • What would loving anonymity look like for me?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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