FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.23.28

తద్ యాత దేవయజనం పతయో వో ద్విజాతయ: । స్వసత్రం పారయిష్యన్తి యుష్మాభిర్గృహమేధిన: ॥ ౨౮ ॥
tad yāta deva-yajanaṁ
[tad yaata deva-yajanam]
patayo vo dvijātayaḥ
[patayo vo dvijaatayah]
sva-satraṁ pārayiṣyanti
[sva-satram paarayishyanti]
yuṣmābhir gṛha-medhinaḥ
[yushmaabhir griha-medhinah]
tat — therefore yāta — go deva - yajanam — to the sacrificial arena patayaḥ — the husbands vaḥ — your dvi - jātayaḥ — the brāhmaṇas sva - satram — their own sacrifices pārayiṣyanti — will be able to finish yuṣmābhiḥ — together with you gṛha - medhinaḥ — the householders .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tad yāta deva-yajanaṁ
tat
therefore
yāta
go
deva - yajanam
to the sacrificial arena
patayo vo dvijātayaḥ
patayaḥ
the husbands
sva-satraṁ pārayiṣyanti
vaḥ
your
dvi - jātayaḥ
the brāhmaṇas
sva - satram
their own sacrifices
pārayiṣyanti
will be able to finish
yuṣmābhir gṛha-medhinaḥ
yuṣmābhiḥ
together with you
gṛha - medhinaḥ
the householders .
  • yāta — go
    Imperative of √yā. The same root as in verse 3 (prayāta) where Kṛṣṇa sent the boys. Kṛṣṇa's command is to go — but not, this time, to gain anything; the wives have already received what was to be received.
  • deva-yajanam — to the sacrificial arena
    Compound: deva (demigod) + yajanam (worship-place). The same site that failed to receive Him will now receive these women back, transformed. Bhakti returns devotees to dharma with the rasa restored.
  • sva-satram — their own sacrifices
    Compound: sva (own) + satram (sacrifice). The wives' assistance is needed to complete the yajña. Kṛṣṇa upholds varṇāśrama-dharma even as He has just exposed its limit.
  • gṛha-medhinaḥ — the householders
    Compound: gṛha (home) + medhinaḥ (those who sacrifice). The technical term — householders bound by ritual obligation. Kṛṣṇa names the husbands by their dharma-role, not their failure.
You should thus return to the sacrificial arena, because your husbands, the learned brāhmaṇas, are householders and need your assistance to finish their respective sacrifices.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
You should thus return to the sacrificial arena, because your husbands, the learned brāhmaṇas, are householders and need your assistance to finish their respective sacrifices.
Commentary

"Because you have heard from Garga and other sages that paramatma is the same as myself, as paramatma I am continuously embracing your bodies. Therefore (tat) return to the sacrifical arena." "That may be but how can we return there, giving up you, who are directly the paramatma standing before us?" "Your husbands need your assistance to complete the sacrifice. The sacrificial acts have been explained by me in the Vedas. Therefore go and perform those activities according to my order, the vedic injunctions. You will be able to see me directly there as well."

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Tad yāta deva-yajanaṁ is the version accepted by Śrīdhara Svāmī. Others however accept tad yāta sādhvyo yajanam. The husbands will be able to complete their personal sacrifices. This indicates there were sacrifices for others, not for themselves. You are necessary because without you the sacrifice cannot be completed. For this reason you should go the sacrifice, not to your houses. They went to their materialistic husbands because of the order of the Lord. He gave the order out of the desire to show mercy to them since he was the friend of all beings.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Your husbands will complete the first part of their sacrifice. This indicates that they then had to perform sacrifices for others. Go, since they are householders. Without you they cannot be householders and thus cannot perform sacrifice. Therefore go to the arena (deva-yajanam) not your houses. This is the approved version. “They should be ignored because they disrespected you.” They are brāhmaṇas, and should be respected. In the story of Nṛga it is said: vipraṁ kṛtāgasam api naiva druhyata māmakāḥ ghnantaṁ bahu śapantaṁ vā namas-kuruta nityaśaḥ My dear followers, never treat a learned brāhmaṇa harshly, even if he has sinned. Even if he attacks you physically or repeatedly curses you, always continue to offer him obeisances. SB 10.64.41

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Asteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Aparigraha (Non-possessiveness)
Related verses

The teacher, having already accepted the student in His heart, sends her back to her duty to test the bond — like Mahāprabhu sending Raghunātha dāsa back to his father before finally accepting him into Purī. The order to return is itself the seal of acceptance.

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