FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.12.31

तेजीयसामपि ह्येतन्न सुश्लोक्यं जगद्गुरो । यद्‌वृत्तमनुतिष्ठन् वै लोक: क्षेमाय कल्पते ॥ ३१ ॥
tejīyasām api hy etan
[tejeeyasaam api hy etan]
na suślokyaṁ jagad-guro
[na sushlokyam jagad-guro]
yad-vṛttam anutiṣṭhan vai
[yad-vrittam anutishthan vai]
lokaḥ kṣemāya kalpate
[lokah kshemaaya kalpate]
tejīyasām — of the most powerful api — also hi — certainly etat — such an act na — not suitable su-ślokyam — good behavior jagat-guro — O spiritual master of the universe yat — whose vṛttam — character anutiṣṭhan — following vai — certainly lokaḥ — the world kṣemāya — for prosperity kalpate — becomes eligible.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tejīyasām api hy etan
tejīyasām
of the most powerful
api
also
hi
certainly
etat
such an act
na suślokyaṁ jagad-guro
na
not suitable
su-ślokyam
good behavior
jagat-guro
O spiritual master of the universe
yad-vṛttam anutiṣṭhan vai
yat
whose
vṛttam
character
anutiṣṭhan
following
vai
certainly
lokaḥ kṣemāya kalpate
lokaḥ
the world
kṣemāya
for prosperity
kalpate
becomes eligible.
Even though you are the most powerful being, this act does not suit you because your character is followed for spiritual improvement by people in general.

It is said that a supremely powerful living entity can do anything and everything he likes and such acts do not affect him in any way. For example, the sun, the most powerful fiery planet in the universe, can evaporate water from anywhere and still remain as powerful. The sun evaporates water from filthy places and yet is not infected with the quality of the filth. Similarly, Brahmā remains unimpeachable in all conditions. But still, since he is the spiritual master of all living entities, his behavior and character should be so ideal that people will follow such sublime behavior and derive the highest spiritual benefit. Therefore, he should not have acted as he did.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O guru of the universe! This act does not benefit the reputation of those who have more power than others, because the population should derive benefit in following your conduct. Suślokyam means good reputation. Vṛttam means conduct.
The scale of the creation in this verse is not given to overwhelm us but to right-size us. Most of our anxiety shrinks when our self-importance shrinks. The verse anchors this in spiritual master.
Reflection Questions
  • What would change in your prayer if you remembered how small your sphere actually is?
  • What would humility actually look like for you in your work this week?
📝 My note

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