Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.14.45
तं तु तेऽवनतं दीनं किं करोमीति वादिनम् ।
निषीदेत्यब्रुवंस्तात स निषादस्ततोऽभवत् ॥ ४५ ॥
taṁ tu te ’vanataṁ dīnaṁ
[tam tu te ’vanatam deenam]
kiṁ karomīti vādinam
[kim karomeeti vaadinam]
niṣīdety abruvaṁs tāta
[nisheedety abruvams taata]
sa niṣādas tato ’bhavat
[sa nishaadas tato ’bhavat]
Word-for-word
tam
—
unto him
tu
—
then
te
—
the sages
avanatam
—
bowed down
dīnam
—
meek
kim
—
what
karomi
—
shall I do
iti
—
thus
vādinam
—
inquiring
niṣīda
—
just sit down
iti
—
thus
abruvan
—
they replied
tāta
—
my dear Vidura
saḥ
—
he
niṣādaḥ
—
of the name Niṣāda
tataḥ
—
thereafter
abhavat
—
became.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
taṁ tu te ’vanataṁ dīnaṁ
tam
unto him
tu
then
te
the sages
kiṁ karomīti vādinam
niṣīdety abruvaṁs tāta
sa niṣādas tato ’bhavat
avanatam
bowed down
dīnam
meek
kim
what
karomi
shall I do
iti
thus
vādinam
inquiring
niṣīda
just sit down
iti
thus
abruvan
they replied
tāta
my dear Vidura
saḥ
he
niṣādaḥ
of the name Niṣāda
tataḥ
thereafter
abhavat
became.
He was very submissive and meek, and immediately after his birth he bowed down and inquired, “Sirs, what shall I do?” The great sages replied, “Please sit down [niṣīda].” Thus Niṣāda, the father of the Naiṣāda race, was born.
Purport
It is said in the śāstras that the head of the body represents the brāhmaṇas, the arms represent the kṣatriyas, the abdomen represents the vaiśyas, and the legs, beginning with the thighs, represent the śūdras. The śūdras are sometimes called black, or kṛṣṇa. The brāhmaṇas are called śukla, or white, and the kṣatriyas and the vaiśyas are a mixture of black and white. However, those who are extraordinarily white are said to have skin produced out of white leprosy. It may be concluded that white or a golden hue is the color of the higher caste, and black is the complexion of the śūdras.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
When, bowing down humbly, he said “What shall I do?” the sages said “Sit (niṣīda).” Therefore he became the Niṣāda tribe.
Since he was tribal in nature, he was not suitable to be the King.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Submissive Bāhuka bowed and asked 'What shall I do?' The sages said 'Niṣīda' (sit) — so he became Niṣāda. Some souls' destiny is fixed by their first sincere question; the answer becomes their name.
Reflection Questions
- What 'first question' am I asking that may set my identity for years?
- Whose humble first question deserves a careful answer from me because it will define them?
My note
Source: vedabase.io