FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.37

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्युक्ते यमदूतैस्ते वासुदेवोक्तकारिण: । तान् प्रत्यूचु: प्रहस्येदं मेघनिर्ह्रादया गिरा ॥ ३७ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca
[shree-shuka uvaacha]
ity ukte yamadūtais te
[ity ukte yamadootais te]
vāsudevokta-kāriṇaḥ
[vaasudevokta-kaarinah]
tān pratyūcuḥ prahasyedaṁ
[taan pratyoochuh prahasyedam]
megha-nirhrādayā girā
[megha-nirhraadayaa giraa]
Word-for-word
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said iti — thus ukte — being addressed yamadūtaiḥ — by the messengers of Yamarāja te — they vāsudeva-ukta-kāriṇaḥ — who are always ready to execute the orders of Lord Vāsudeva (being personal associates of Lord Viṣṇu who have obtained the liberation of sālokya) tān — unto them pratyūcuḥ — replied prahasya — smiling idam — this megha-nirhrādayā — resounding like a rumbling cloud girā — with voices.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-śuka uvāca
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
ity ukte yamadūtais te
iti
thus
ukte
being addressed
yamadūtaiḥ
by the messengers of Yamarāja
te
they
vāsudevokta-kāriṇaḥ
vāsudeva-ukta-kāriṇaḥ
who are always ready to execute the orders of Lord Vāsudeva (being personal associates of Lord Viṣṇu who have obtained the liberation of sālokya)
tān
unto them
tān pratyūcuḥ prahasyedaṁ
pratyūcuḥ
replied
prahasya
smiling
idam
this
megha-nirhrādayā girā
megha-nirhrādayā
resounding like a rumbling cloud
girā
with voices.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Being thus addressed by the messengers of Yamarāja, the servants of Vāsudeva smiled and spoke the following words in voices as deep as the sound of rumbling clouds.
Purport

The Yamadūtas were surprised to see that the Viṣṇudūtas, although polite, were hindering the rule of Yamarāja. Similarly, the Viṣṇudūtas were also surprised that the Yamadūtas, although claiming to be servants of Yamarāja, the supreme judge of religious principles, were unaware of the principles of religious action. Thus the Viṣṇudūtas smiled, thinking, “What is this nonsense they are speaking? If they are actually servants of Yamarāja they should know that Ajāmila is not a suitable candidate for them to carry off.”

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Śukadeva said: When the servants of Yama had thus spoken, the servants of Viṣṇu replied to them while smiling, with voices like rumbling clouds. They smiled. “You do not know dharma. Because of fear of us, you say you are the servants of Yama, but you are merely a type of preta. Having come into our hands, how will you live now?”
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The Viṣṇudūtas smiled and answered in voices like rumbling clouds. A true servant of God responds to challenge not with anger or fear but with composed authority — knowing the truth on whose strength he stands.
Reflection Questions
  • When my values are challenged, do I react with anxiety or respond with calm clarity?
  • What inner foundation would I need to build to speak about Kṛṣṇa with such quiet confidence?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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