Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.15.11
चरन्ति ह्यवनौ कामं ब्राह्मणा भगवत्प्रिया: ।
मादृशां ग्राम्यबुद्धीनां बोधायोन्मत्तलिङ्गिन: ॥ ११ ॥
caranti hy avanau kāmaṁ
[charanti hy avanau kaamam]
brāhmaṇā bhagavat-priyāḥ
[braahmanaa bhagavat-priyaah]
mādṛśāṁ grāmya-buddhīnāṁ
[maadrishaam graamya-buddheenaam]
bodhāyonmatta-liṅginaḥ
[bodhaayonmatta-linginah]
Word-for-word
caranti
—
wander
hi
—
indeed
avanau
—
on the surface of the world
kāmam
—
according to desire
brāhmaṇāḥ
—
the brāhmaṇas
bhagavat-priyāḥ
—
who are also Vaiṣṇavas, very dear to the Personality of Godhead
mā-dṛśām
—
of those like me
grāmya-buddhīnām
—
who are obsessed with temporary material consciousness
bodhāya
—
for the awakening
unmatta-liṅginaḥ
—
who dress as if madmen.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
caranti hy avanau kāmaṁ
caranti
wander
brāhmaṇā bhagavat-priyāḥ
mādṛśāṁ grāmya-buddhīnāṁ
hi
indeed
avanau
on the surface of the world
kāmam
according to desire
brāhmaṇāḥ
the brāhmaṇas
bhagavat-priyāḥ
who are also Vaiṣṇavas, very dear to the Personality of Godhead
bodhāyonmatta-liṅginaḥ
mā-dṛśām
of those like me
grāmya-buddhīnām
who are obsessed with temporary material consciousness
bodhāya
for the awakening
unmatta-liṅginaḥ
who dress as if madmen.
Brāhmaṇas who are exalted to the position of Vaiṣṇavas, the most dear servants of Kṛṣṇa, sometimes dress like madmen. Just to benefit materialists like us, who are always attached to sense gratification, and just to dissipate our ignorance, these Vaiṣṇavas wander on the surface of the globe according to their desire.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Brāhmaṇas who are Vaiṣṇavas, the most dear servants of the Lord, dressed like madmen, wander the earth at will to enlighten materialist persons like me.
Personal Guidance
Vaiṣṇavas elevated as Kṛṣṇa's dear servants sometimes dress as madmen to benefit attached materialists like us. Their unusual exterior is meant for our benefit.
Reflection Questions
- Whose 'mad' behavior might be a deliberate teaching device?
- Could I be less judgmental of the 'mad' devotee I sometimes notice?
My note
Source: vedabase.io