Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.11.12
स त्वं हरेरनुध्यातस्तत्पुंसामपि सम्मत: ।
कथं त्ववद्यं कृतवाननुशिक्षन् सतां व्रतम् ॥ १२ ॥
sa tvaṁ harer anudhyātas
[sa tvam harer anudhyaatas]
tat-puṁsām api sammataḥ
[tat-pumsaam api sammatah]
kathaṁ tv avadyaṁ kṛtavān
[katham tv avadyam kritavaan]
anuśikṣan satāṁ vratam
[anushikshan sataam vratam]
Word-for-word
saḥ
—
that person
tvam
—
you
hareḥ
—
by the Supreme Lord
anudhyātaḥ
—
being always remembered
tat
—
His
puṁsām
—
by the devotees
api
—
also
sammataḥ
—
esteemed
katham
—
why
tu
—
then
avadyam
—
abominable (act)
kṛtavān
—
you have undertaken
anuśikṣan
—
setting the example
satām
—
of saintly persons
vratam
—
a vow.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa tvaṁ harer anudhyātas
saḥ
that person
tvam
you
hareḥ
by the Supreme Lord
anudhyātaḥ
being always remembered
tat-puṁsām api sammataḥ
tat
His
puṁsām
by the devotees
api
also
sammataḥ
esteemed
kathaṁ tv avadyaṁ kṛtavān
katham
why
tu
then
avadyam
abominable (act)
kṛtavān
you have undertaken
anuśikṣan satāṁ vratam
anuśikṣan
setting the example
satām
of saintly persons
vratam
a vow.
Because you are a pure devotee of the Lord, the Lord is always thinking of you, and you are also recognized by all His confidential devotees. Your life is meant for exemplary behavior. I am therefore surprised — why have you undertaken such an abominable task?
Purport
Dhruva Mahārāja was a pure devotee and was accustomed to always thinking of the Lord. Reciprocally, the Lord always thinks of those pure devotees who think of Him only, twenty-four hours a day. As a pure devotee does not know anything beyond the Lord, so the Lord does not know anything beyond His pure devotee. Svāyambhuva Manu pointed out this fact to Dhruva Mahārāja: “Not only are you a pure devotee, but you are recognized by all pure devotees of the Lord. You should always act in such an exemplary way that others may learn from you. Under the circumstances, it is surprising that you have killed so many faultless Yakṣas.”
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Always remembering the Lord, you have been recognized by the great devotees. You teach others the conduct of a saintly person. Why then do you act in this shameful way?
You always (anu) remember the Lord. And this means the Lord, out of affection, makes him remember. You are always considered by the devotees such as Nārada. This means that he is the object of mercy of these great devotees.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The Lord always thinks of you; you are recognized by His devotees; your life is meant to be exemplary — so why this abominable act? Status as a public devotee carries the burden of representative conduct.
Reflection Questions
- Which of my actions, if observed, would embarrass my spiritual lineage?
- How does remembering 'the Lord is thinking of me right now' change my next choice?
My note
Source: vedabase.io