Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.23.45
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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sva-artha-vimūḍhānām
—
who were bewildered about their own true benefit
Compound: sva-artha (own benefit) + vimūḍhānām (bewildered). Repeating the diagnosis of verse 41. The brāhmaṇas are precise about their own failure — bhakti's first practical fruit is accurate self-diagnosis.
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gṛha-īhayā
—
with their household endeavors
Compound: gṛha (home) + īhayā (endeavour, instrumental). The chase after household goods. Pramatta — intoxicated. The Bhāgavatam's standard diagnosis of gṛhastha-life when bhakti is absent.
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smārayām-āsa
—
He reminded about
Periphrastic perfect of √smṛ. Kṛṣṇa is the one who reminds. The whole chapter has been a smāraṇa-līlā — He reminded the wives by His presence, He reminds the brāhmaṇas by His absence.
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gopa-vākyaiḥ
—
by the words of cowherds
Compound: gopa (cowherd) + vākyaiḥ (words, instrumental plural). The boys' simple words have done what the entire Veda-recitation could not. Gauḍīya: bhakti carries its weight regardless of the speaker's social status.
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satām-gatiḥ
—
the ultimate destination of the transcendental souls
Compound: satām (of saintly persons) + gatiḥ (destination). Kṛṣṇa is named as the destination of the sat. The brāhmaṇas finally articulate the correct soteriology — the lesson the chapter has been working toward.
"As he is full in his desires, ever satisfied what need does he have of us? It cannot be anything else except causless mercy (anyatha). The lord begging for food is demeaning for him. It is a criticism of our material activities (vidambanam)."
This verse shows how Kṛṣṇa is uttama-śloka. svargāpavargayoḥ puṁsāṁ rasāyāṁ bhuvi sampadām sarvāsām api siddhīnāṁ mūlaṁ tac-caraṇārcanam Devotional service to the Lord’s lotus feet is the root cause of all the perfections a person can find in heaven, in liberation, in the subterranean regions and on earth. SB 10.81.19 There can be no perfection of goals without bhakti. Thus they say it is certain (nūnam) that they have deviated. They were completely bewildered about their goal because they were completely involved with household rites. He has made us, bewildered by involvement in household duties, remember him, since he is the goal of those who surrender to him according to individual qualification as mentioned in the Vedas (satām gatiḥ). Or, he is the goal of the devotees. Thus only by mercy have we been made to realization him. Or, he is the shelter of devotees who are most merciful. How astonishing (aho)! Though he educated us since he is most merciful as Uttama-śloka, we, being unintelligent, did not understand.
“Why did he ask us for rice?” Nanu (perhaps) indicates questioning. Or the verse shows how Kṛṣṇa is uttama-śloka. Certainly (nanu) we were ignorant of our real interest, bhakti, since we were absorbed in household activities, inattentive to the Lord. Or we were completely insane with household actions and completely proud. He made us remember him because he is the goal of persons following dharma. We were absorbed in sacrifices, thinking we were following dharma. Or He is the goal of the devotees. How astonishing (aho)! Though he is understood to be most worthy of praise, we did not realize this, because of our stupidity.
The doctor was sick and did not know; the children pointed to the wound, and only then did he see it. Kṛṣṇa sent the gopa-vākyas — the cowherd boys' simple words — as the diagnostic instrument that finally got past the brāhmaṇas' learning.
My note
Source: vedabase.io