FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.7.47

स प्रसीद त्वमस्माकमाकाङ्‌क्षतां दर्शनं ते परिभ्रष्टसत्कर्मणाम् । कीर्त्यमाने नृभिर्नाम्नि यज्ञेश ते यज्ञविघ्ना: क्षयं यान्ति तस्मै नम: ॥ ४७ ॥
sa prasīda tvam asmākam ākāṅkṣatāṁ
[sa praseeda tvam asmaakam aakaankshataam]
darśanaṁ te paribhraṣṭa-sat-karmaṇām
[darshanam te paribhrashta-sat-karmanaam]
kīrtyamāne nṛbhir nāmni yajñeśa te
[keertyamaane nribhir naamni yajnesha te]
yajña-vighnāḥ kṣayaṁ yānti tasmai namaḥ
[yajna-vighnaah kshayam yaanti tasmai namah]
saḥ — that same person prasīda — be pleased tvam — You asmākam — upon us ākāṅkṣatām — awaiting darśanam — audience te — Your paribhraṣṭa — fallen down sat-karmaṇām — of whom the performance of sacrifice kīrtyamāne — being chanted nṛbhiḥ — by persons nāmni — Your holy name yajña-īśa — O Lord of sacrifice te — Your yajña-vighnāḥ — obstacles kṣayam — destruction yānti — attain tasmai — unto You namaḥ — respectful obeisances.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa prasīda tvam asmākam ākāṅkṣatāṁ
saḥ
that same person
prasīda
be pleased
tvam
You
asmākam
upon us
ākāṅkṣatām
awaiting
darśanaṁ te paribhraṣṭa-sat-karmaṇām
darśanam
audience
te
Your
paribhraṣṭa
fallen down
sat-karmaṇām
of whom the performance of sacrifice
kīrtyamāne nṛbhir nāmni yajñeśa te
kīrtyamāne
being chanted
nṛbhiḥ
by persons
nāmni
Your holy name
yajña-īśa
O Lord of sacrifice
te
Your
yajña-vighnāḥ kṣayaṁ yānti tasmai namaḥ
yajña-vighnāḥ
obstacles
kṣayam
destruction
yānti
attain
tasmai
unto You
namaḥ
respectful obeisances.
Dear Lord, we were awaiting Your audience because we have been unable to perform the yajñas according to the Vedic rituals. We pray unto You, therefore, to be pleased with us. Simply by chanting Your holy name, one can surpass all obstacles. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You in Your presence.

The brāhmaṇa priests were very hopeful that their sacrifice would be carried out without obstacles now that Lord Viṣṇu was present. It is significant in this verse that the brāhmaṇas say, “Simply by chanting Your holy name we can surpass the obstacles, but now You are personally present.” The performance of yajña by Dakṣa was obstructed by the disciples and followers of Lord Śiva. The brāhmaṇas indirectly criticized the followers of Lord Śiva, but because the brāhmaṇas were always protected by Lord Viṣṇu, Śiva’s followers could not do any harm to their prosecution of the sacrificial process. There is a saying that when Kṛṣṇa protects someone, no one can do him harm, and when Kṛṣṇa wants to kill someone, no one can protect him. The vivid example was Rāvaṇa. Rāvaṇa was a great devotee of Lord Śiva, but when Lord Rāmacandra wanted to kill him, Lord Śiva could not protect him. If some demigod, even Lord Śiva or Lord Brahmā, wants to do harm to a devotee, Kṛṣṇa protects the devotee. But when Kṛṣṇa wants to kill someone, such as Rāvaṇa or Hiraṇyakaśipu, no demigod can protect him.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
May you, non-different from the boar, be pleased with us, who are eager to see you, though we have interrupted the sacrifice. O Lord of sacrifice! When your name is chanted, the obstacles to sacrifice disappear. We offer respects to you If chanting your name destroys obstacles, then how much more will your very presence destroy obstacles! The obstacles to the sacrifice were the followers of Śiva. This statement is directed towards them. When the various speakers put blame on various persons, it indicates that there is no fault in the devotees of the Lord, since their position is generally made superior.
The brāhmaṇas note that simply chanting the holy name overcomes obstacles, and now the Lord is personally present. The name is enough; physical presence is bonus. Don't postpone calling Him just because conditions aren't ideal.
Reflection Questions
  • Which obstacle am I waiting to 'figure out' before turning to the name?
  • Where could chanting be my first response today rather than my last resort?
📝 My note

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