FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.8.12

न साधुवादो मुनिकोपभर्जिता नृपेन्द्रपुत्रा इति सत्त्वधामनि । कथं तमो रोषमयं विभाव्यते जगत्पवित्रात्मनि खे रजो भुव: ॥ १२ ॥
na sādhu-vādo muni-kopa-bharjitā
[na saadhu-vaado muni-kopa-bharjitaa]
nṛpendra-putrā iti sattva-dhāmani
[nripendra-putraa iti sattva-dhaamani]
kathaṁ tamo roṣamayaṁ vibhāvyate
[katham tamo roshamayam vibhaavyate]
jagat-pavitrātmani khe rajo bhuvaḥ
[jagat-pavitraatmani khe rajo bhuvah]
Word-for-word
na — not sādhu-vādaḥ — the opinion of learned persons muni-kopa — by the anger of Kapila Muni bharjitāḥ — were burned to ashes nṛpendra-putrāḥ — all the sons of Sagara Mahārāja iti — thus sattva-dhāmani — in Kapila Muni, in whom the mode of goodness was predominant katham — how tamaḥ — the mode of ignorance roṣa-mayam — manifested in the form of anger vibhāvyate — can be manifested jagat-pavitra-ātmani — in He whose body can purify the whole world khe — in the sky rajaḥ — dust bhuvaḥ — earthly.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
na sādhu-vādo muni-kopa-bharjitā
na
not
sādhu-vādaḥ
the opinion of learned persons
muni-kopa
by the anger of Kapila Muni
bharjitāḥ
were burned to ashes
nṛpendra-putrā iti sattva-dhāmani
nṛpendra-putrāḥ
all the sons of Sagara Mahārāja
iti
thus
sattva-dhāmani
in Kapila Muni, in whom the mode of goodness was predominant
kathaṁ tamo roṣamayaṁ vibhāvyate
katham
how
tamaḥ
the mode of ignorance
roṣa-mayam
manifested in the form of anger
vibhāvyate
can be manifested
jagat-pavitrātmani khe rajo bhuvaḥ
jagat-pavitra-ātmani
in He whose body can purify the whole world
khe
in the sky
rajaḥ
dust
bhuvaḥ
earthly.
It is sometimes argued that the sons of King Sagara were burned to ashes by the fire emanating from the eyes of Kapila Muni. This statement, however, is not approved by great learned persons, for Kapila Muni’s body is completely in the mode of goodness and therefore cannot manifest the mode of ignorance in the form of anger, just as the pure sky cannot be polluted by the dust of the earth.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
That the sons were burned by Kapila’s anger is not accepted by the wise. How can tamas filled with anger exist in the body of Kapila which is śuddha-sattva and which purifies the universe? It is like saying that earthly dust contaminates the sky. Those who say that Kapila became angry are ignorant. To say that the sons were burned by the anger of Kapila is not accepted by the wise. It is said by the ignorant, since his body is śuddha-sattva, and thus by seeing it, the world becomes purified. Tamas cannot exist in him. An example is given to show the impossibility. How is it possible for dust to exist in sky? The ignorant say the sky is dirty. Similarly they say Kapila got angry.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Some retell the story as if Kapila destroyed the princes in anger, but a sage in pure goodness cannot manifest such ignorance. We must be careful not to project our own grossness onto the actions of advanced souls.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have I attributed motives to a devotee that say more about me than about them?
  • How could I extend more benefit of the doubt to those whose nature is purer than mine?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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