Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.21.41
मत्तद्विजगणैर्घुष्टं मत्तभ्रमरविभ्रमम् ।
मत्तबर्हिनटाटोपमाह्वयन्मत्तकोकिलम् ॥ ४१ ॥
matta-dvija-gaṇair ghuṣṭaṁ
[matta-dvija-ganair ghushtam]
matta-bhramara-vibhramam
[matta-bhramara-vibhramam]
matta-barhi-naṭāṭopam
[matta-barhi-nataatopam]
āhvayan-matta-kokilam
[aahvayan-matta-kokilam]
Word-for-word
matta
—
overjoyed
dvija
—
of birds
gaṇaiḥ
—
by flocks
ghuṣṭam
—
resounded
matta
—
intoxicated
bhramara
—
of bees
vibhramam
—
wandering
matta
—
maddened
barhi
—
of peacocks
naṭa
—
of dancers
āṭopam
—
pride
āhvayat
—
calling one another
matta
—
merry
kokilam
—
cuckoos.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
matta-dvija-gaṇair ghuṣṭaṁ
matta
overjoyed
dvija
of birds
gaṇaiḥ
by flocks
ghuṣṭam
resounded
matta-bhramara-vibhramam
matta
intoxicated
bhramara
of bees
vibhramam
wandering
matta-barhi-naṭāṭopam
matta
maddened
barhi
of peacocks
naṭa
of dancers
āṭopam
pride
āhvayan-matta-kokilam
āhvayat
calling one another
matta
merry
kokilam
cuckoos.
The area resounded with the notes of overjoyed birds. Intoxicated bees wandered there, intoxicated peacocks proudly danced, and merry cuckoos called one another.
Purport
The beauty of the pleasant sounds heard in the area surrounding Lake Bindu-sarovara is described here. After drinking honey, the black bees became maddened, and they hummed in intoxication. Merry peacocks danced just like actors and actresses, and merry cuckoos called their mates very nicely.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Intoxicated birds chirped, intoxicated bees swarmed everywhere, intoxicated peacocks danced, and intoxicated cuckoos warbled.
Mad peacocks danced with zeal (āṭopam). The intoxicated cuckoos were calling out to each other.
Personal Guidance
The verse places hearing kṛṣṇa-kathā at the centre of spiritual practice. It is not preparation for some later realization — it is itself the work that does the rewiring.
Reflection Questions
- Where is your ear most often during the day, and what is that input doing to your taste?
- What would change if you treated 30 minutes of kṛṣṇa-kathā as non-negotiable as a meal?
My note
Source: vedabase.io