Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.21.10
न वायं ब्रह्मबन्धुर्विष्णुर्मायाविनां वर: ।
द्विजरूपप्रतिच्छन्नो देवकार्यं चिकीर्षति ॥ १० ॥
na vāyaṁ brahma-bandhur
[na vaayam brahma-bandhur]
viṣṇur māyāvināṁ varaḥ
[vishnur maayaavinaam varah]
dvija-rūpa-praticchanno
[dvija-roopa-pratichchanno]
deva-kāryaṁ cikīrṣati
[deva-kaaryam chikeershati]
Word-for-word
na
—
not
vā
—
either
ayam
—
this
brahma-bandhuḥ
—
Vāmanadeva, in the form of a brāhmaṇa
viṣṇuḥ
—
He is Lord Viṣṇu Himself
māyāvinām
—
of all cheaters
varaḥ
—
the greatest
dvija-rūpa
—
by assuming the form of a brāhmaṇa
praticchannaḥ
—
is disguised for the purpose of cheating
deva-kāryam
—
the interest of the demigods
cikīrṣati
—
He is trying for.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
na vāyaṁ brahma-bandhur
na
not
vā
either
ayam
this
brahma-bandhuḥ
Vāmanadeva, in the form of a brāhmaṇa
viṣṇur māyāvināṁ varaḥ
viṣṇuḥ
He is Lord Viṣṇu Himself
māyāvinām
of all cheaters
varaḥ
the greatest
dvija-rūpa-praticchanno
dvija-rūpa
by assuming the form of a brāhmaṇa
praticchannaḥ
is disguised for the purpose of cheating
deva-kāryaṁ cikīrṣati
deva-kāryam
the interest of the demigods
cikīrṣati
He is trying for.
“This Vāmana is certainly not a brāhmaṇa but the best of cheaters, Lord Viṣṇu. Assuming the form of a brāhmaṇa, He has covered His own form, and thus He is working for the interests of the demigods.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
This Vāmana is certainly not a brāhmaṇa but the greatest of cheaters, Viṣṇu. Assuming the form of a brāhmaṇa, he has covered his form and is working for the interests of the devatās.
Personal Guidance
This is no brāhmaṇa but Viṣṇu, the best of cheaters, working for the demigods' interests. The demons correctly identify Him — but as a cheater, not as the supreme refuge. Right perception, wrong frame.
Reflection Questions
- Where do I correctly identify the Lord's activity but frame it as deception?
- What if the 'cheating' I have felt is the same arrangement my future self will praise?
My note
Source: vedabase.io