Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.15.26
वयं त्वविदिता लोके सूताद्यापि वरीमभि: ।
कर्मभि: कथमात्मानं गापयिष्याम बालवत् ॥ २६ ॥
vayaṁ tv aviditā loke
[vayam tv aviditaa loke]
sūtādyāpi varīmabhiḥ
[sootaadyaapi vareemabhih]
karmabhiḥ katham ātmānaṁ
[karmabhih katham aatmaanam]
gāpayiṣyāma bālavat
[gaapayishyaama baalavat]
Word-for-word
vayam
—
we
tu
—
then
aviditāḥ
—
not famous
loke
—
in the world
sūta-ādya
—
O persons headed by the sūta
api
—
just now
varīmabhiḥ
—
great, praiseworthy
karmabhiḥ
—
by actions
katham
—
how
ātmānam
—
unto myself
gāpayiṣyāma
—
I shall engage you in offering
bālavat
—
like children.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vayaṁ tv aviditā loke
vayam
we
tu
then
aviditāḥ
not famous
loke
in the world
sūtādyāpi varīmabhiḥ
sūta-ādya
O persons headed by the sūta
api
just now
varīmabhiḥ
great, praiseworthy
karmabhiḥ katham ātmānaṁ
karmabhiḥ
by actions
katham
how
ātmānam
unto myself
gāpayiṣyāma bālavat
gāpayiṣyāma
I shall engage you in offering
bālavat
like children.
King Pṛthu continued: My dear devotees, headed by the sūta, just now I am not very famous for my personal activities because I have not done anything praiseworthy you could glorify. Therefore how could I engage you in praising my activities exactly like children?
Purport
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, Fifteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “King Pṛthu’s Appearance and Coronation.”
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
O praisers! I am not famous for excellent activities in this world. Like a fool, how can I engage others in praising me for those actions?
The long ī in varīmabhiḥ is poetic license. I am not famous for performing excellent actions, so how can I engage others in glorifying me and my actions?
Thus ends the commentary on the Fifteenth Chapter of the Fourth Canto of the Bhāgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous ācāryas.
Chapter Sixteen
Glorification of Pṛthu
4.16: Praise of King Pṛthu by the Professional Reciters
16. Praise of King Pṛthu by the Professional Reciters
Personal Guidance
I haven't yet done anything praiseworthy — how could I engage you in praising me like children? The new occupant of a position refuses childish praise; he'll earn the song with deeds.
Reflection Questions
- What praise am I receiving today for a position I just got, not for deeds I have done?
- Which 'engage in deeds, then receive song' discipline would I benefit from adopting?
My note
Source: vedabase.io