FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.9.21

दैत्यान्गृहीतकलसो वञ्चयन्नुपसञ्चरै: । दूरस्थान् पाययामास जरामृत्युहरां सुधाम् ॥ २१ ॥
daityān gṛhīta-kalaso
[daityaan griheeta-kalaso]
vañcayann upasañcaraiḥ
[vanchayann upasancharaih]
dūra-sthān pāyayām āsa
[doora-sthaan paayayaam aasa]
jarā-mṛtyu-harāṁ sudhām
[jaraa-mrityu-haraam sudhaam]
daityān — the demons gṛhīta-kalasaḥ — the Lord, who bore the container of nectar vañcayan — by cheating upasañcaraiḥ — with sweet words dūra-sthān — the demigods, who were sitting at a distant place pāyayām āsa — made them drink jarā-mṛtyu-harām — which can counteract invalidity, old age and death sudhām — such nectar.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
daityān gṛhīta-kalaso
daityān
the demons
gṛhīta-kalasaḥ
the Lord, who bore the container of nectar
vañcayann upasañcaraiḥ
vañcayan
by cheating
upasañcaraiḥ
with sweet words
dūra-sthān pāyayām āsa
dūra-sthān
the demigods, who were sitting at a distant place
pāyayām āsa
made them drink
jarā-mṛtyu-harāṁ sudhām
jarā-mṛtyu-harām
which can counteract invalidity, old age and death
sudhām
such nectar.
Taking the container of nectar in Her hands, She first approached the demons, satisfied them with sweet words and thus cheated them of their share of the nectar. Then She administered the nectar to the demigods, who were sitting at a distant place, to make them free from invalidity, old age and death.

Mohinī-mūrti, the Personality of Godhead, gave the demigods seats at a distance. Then She approached the demons and spoke with them very graciously, so that they thought themselves very fortunate to talk with Her. Since Mohinī-mūrti had seated the demigods at a distant place, the demons thought that the demigods would get only a little of the nectar and that Mohinī-mūrti was so pleased with the demons that She would give the demons all the nectar. The words vañcayann upasañcaraiḥ indicate that the Lord’s whole policy was to cheat the demons simply by speaking sweet words. The Lord’s intention was to distribute the nectar only to the demigods.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Taking the container of nectar in her hands, she first approached the demons, and cheated them by her bewildering gestures. Then she administered the nectar which destroys old age and death to the devatās, who were sitting at a distant place. She cheated the demons by slowly moving close to them (upa) while moving her cloth, ornaments and ankle bells, covering her face, smiling shyly and moving her eyebrows. They thought she would give a little to the devatās to satisfy them and give most to the demons. This is how she cheated them. They concluded in their mind, “We are now drinking nectar with our ears, eyes and mind. The nectar from the milk ocean cannot be more than this. What is the use of the nectar? We desire simply to please her.” She then gave nectar to the devatās who were seated far off.
Approaching the demons first with sweet words, She satisfied their pride and cheated them; then served the demigods quietly. The Lord's whole policy was to cheat by sweet talk. Some get the show; devotees get the result.
Reflection Questions
  • Am I trusting sweet attention as a sign of being chosen, or watching where the real gift actually goes?
  • Would I rather sit far and receive the nectar, or sit near and receive only sweet words?
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