Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.7.40
एतान्मे पृच्छत: प्रश्नान् हरे: कर्मविवित्सया ।
ब्रूहि मेऽज्ञस्य मित्रत्वादजया नष्टचक्षुष: ॥ ४० ॥
etān me pṛcchataḥ praśnān
[etaan me prichchatah prashnaan]
hareḥ karma-vivitsayā
[hareh karma-vivitsayaa]
brūhi me ’jñasya mitratvād
[broohi me ’jnasya mitratvaad]
ajayā naṣṭa-cakṣuṣaḥ
[ajayaa nashta-chakshushah]
Word-for-word
etān
—
all these
me
—
my
pṛcchataḥ
—
of one who inquires
praśnān
—
questions
hareḥ
—
of the Supreme Lord
karma
—
pastimes
vivitsayā
—
desiring to know
brūhi
—
kindly describe
me
—
unto me
ajñasya
—
of one who is ignorant
mitratvāt
—
because of friendship
ajayā
—
by the external energy
naṣṭa-cakṣuṣaḥ
—
those who have lost their vision.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
etān me pṛcchataḥ praśnān
etān
all these
me
my
pṛcchataḥ
of one who inquires
praśnān
questions
hareḥ karma-vivitsayā
hareḥ
of the Supreme Lord
karma
pastimes
vivitsayā
desiring to know
brūhi me ’jñasya mitratvād
brūhi
kindly describe
me
unto me
ajayā naṣṭa-cakṣuṣaḥ
ajñasya
of one who is ignorant
mitratvāt
because of friendship
ajayā
by the external energy
naṣṭa-cakṣuṣaḥ
those who have lost their vision.
My dear sage, I have put all these questions before you with a view to knowing the pastimes of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are the friend of all, so kindly describe them for all those who have lost their vision.
Purport
Vidura put forward many varieties of questions with a view to understanding the principles of transcendental loving service to the Lord. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.41) , devotional service to the Lord is one, and the mind of the devotee is not diverted to the many branches of uncertainties. Vidura’s purpose was to be situated in that service to the Lord, wherein one merges undivertedly. He claimed the friendship of Maitreya Muni, not because he was Maitreya’s son but because Maitreya was actually the friend of all who have lost their spiritual vision due to material influence.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Since I am ignorant, having lost my sight because of māyā, I have asked these questions with a desire to know about the pastimes of the Lord. Please reply to these questions since you are a friend.
“Why have you asked so many questions?” Please answer these questions asked only with a desire to know about the pastimes of the Lord and service to him. When all these questions are answered, I will have complete concentration on the Lord’s service with indifference to all else. When I have my full attention on the Lord, then I can attain him. Brūhi me here indicates “Speak in order to deliver me.” In this way the repetition of the word me is not a fault. Addressing Maitreya as a friend (mitratvāt) means that though he is the son of Mitrā, he is also the friend of the whole universe.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Devotional service is named here as the central fact of spiritual life, not a hobby alongside it. The verse asks us to make the Lord the actual recipient of our daily activity rather than a polite afterthought. The pivot here is devotional service to the Lord.
Reflection Questions
- Where is your devotional life mostly verbal, and where is it actually costing you something?
- Whom in your life would notice if your devotional service deepened, and what would they see?
My note
Source: vedabase.io