FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.2.9

श्रूयतां ब्रह्मर्षयो मे सहदेवा: सहाग्नय: । साधूनां ब्रुवतो वृत्तं नाज्ञानान्न च मत्सरात् ॥ ९ ॥
śrūyatāṁ brahmarṣayo me
[shrooyataam brahmarshayo me]
saha-devāḥ sahāgnayaḥ
[saha-devaah sahaagnayah]
sādhūnāṁ bruvato vṛttaṁ
[saadhoonaam bruvato vrittam]
nājñānān na ca matsarāt
[naajnaanaan na cha matsaraat]
Word-for-word
śrūyatām — hear brahma-ṛṣayaḥ — O sages among the brāhmaṇas me — unto me saha-devāḥ — O demigods saha-agnayaḥ — O fire-gods sādhūnām — of the gentle bruvataḥ — speaking vṛttam — the manners na — not ajñānāt — from ignorance na ca — and not matsarāt — from envy.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrūyatāṁ brahmarṣayo me
śrūyatām
hear
brahma-ṛṣayaḥ
O sages among the brāhmaṇas
me
unto me
saha-devāḥ sahāgnayaḥ
saha-devāḥ
O demigods
saha-agnayaḥ
O fire-gods
sādhūnāṁ bruvato vṛttaṁ
sādhūnām
of the gentle
bruvataḥ
speaking
vṛttam
the manners
nājñānān na ca matsarāt
na
not
ajñānāt
from ignorance
na ca
and not
matsarāt
from envy.
All sages, brāhmaṇas and fire-gods present, please hear me with attention, for I speak about the manners of gentle persons. I do not speak out of ignorance or envy.
Purport

In speaking against Lord Śiva, Dakṣa tried to pacify the assembly by presenting in a very tactful way that he was going to speak about the manners of gentle persons, although naturally this might affect some unmannerly upstarts and the assembly might be unhappy because they did not want even unmannerly persons to be offended. In other words, he was in complete knowledge that he was speaking against Lord Śiva in spite of Śiva’s spotless character. As far as envy is concerned, from the very beginning he was envious of Lord Śiva; therefore he could not distinguish his own particular envy. Although he spoke like a man in ignorance, he wanted to cover his statements by saying that he was not speaking for impudent and envious reasons.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O brahmarṣis, devatās and fire-gods! Hear the words I speak about the conduct of the gentle. I do not speak out of ignorance or hatred. Please hear my words (not written but understood), as I speak about the conduct of the well bred (vṛttam). I will criticize the bad mannered, but do not become unhappy without first reflecting. The well mannered will suffering if they tolerate the ill mannered, like not weeding the grain field. If one shows no hatred, such persons will commit offence against the well mannered. “You speak like this because of ignorance of the good nature of Śiva.” No, I do not speak out of ignorance. And I have not known hatred from birth.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Dakṣa frames his attack as 'speaking about gentle manners' — pride often dresses up as principle. When you find yourself appointing yourself the judge of others' manners, suspect the motive. Real gentleness doesn't audit.
Reflection Questions
  • When have I dressed up personal injury as a stand for principle?
  • Whose manners am I currently auditing, and what is that audit really about?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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