Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.23.51
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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ādyaḥ-puruṣaḥ
—
the primeval Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Compound: ādyaḥ (first) + puruṣaḥ (Person). The original puruṣa — Brahma-saṁhitā 5.1's ādi-puruṣa. The brāhmaṇas reach this designation precisely. They now know whom they offended.
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sva-mayā-mohita-ātmanām
—
of those whose minds have been bewildered by His illusory potency
Compound: sva (own) + mayā (illusion) + mohita (bewildered) + ātmanām (souls, genitive). They locate the cause of their offence in His own māyā — and so the cure too lies in Him. Gauḍīyas: this is the structurally correct prayer for forgiveness.
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avijñāta-anubhāvānām
—
of those who did not understand His influence
Compound: avijñāta (not known) + anubhāvānām (genitive plural of anubhāva, glory). They did not understand His anubhāva — the very category Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu uses for the secondary expressions of bhāva. They missed His tattva in His own līlā.
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kṣantum-arhati
—
should kindly forgive
Compound: kṣantum (infinitive of √kṣam, to forgive) + arhati (deserves/should). The request is in formal śāstric register. They petition not on the basis of merit but of His own quality of kṣamā.
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atikramam
—
the offense
From ati + √kram — 'a crossing-over,' transgression. Specifically the violation of vaiṣṇava-aparādha-type. The brāhmaṇas use the technical word — they know what they have done, and they know what category of injury it is.
Why did the brahmanas not surrender to Krsna just then, by going to the forest of asoka trees, or later, by going to Vraja. This verse answers. At that moment, they were bewildered by grief and guilt and they were not in common agreement. Thus they did not go to the asoka grove. After some time passed, in the evening, when they agreed that they would go to Vraja, they could not go. The word "ca" indicates they made movements to go, but could not. Suddenly it occurred to all of them at the same time that Kamsa was present. They were afraid that Kamsa, hearing through messengers that they were going to Vraja, would kill them. However, fear of being killed did not create an obstacle for the wives to see Krsna. The reason was their prema. It should be understood that the shadow of fear in the brahmana’s minds that prevented them from meeting Krsna was caused by Krsna’s potency of maya.
Filled with great humility they ask Kṛṣṇa for forgiveness. Kṛṣṇa (saḥ) should forgive our offense because we did not know his glory (anubhāvānām), since we were bewildered by his māyā. If we have made offense, then he should forgive that offense like a father of the brāhmaṇas, since they arise from his head when he is the form of the first puruṣaḥ (ādyaḥ puruṣaḥ) with a thousand heads. Or, he is the best (ādyaḥ) person. Therefore he should forgive the offense of these most fallen brāhmaṇas. Moreover he is the antaryāmī (resting in the heart—puruṣaḥ). Thus he has made us act in this way. Or, he is the supreme person (ādyaḥ puruṣaḥ). Therefore he should forgive us since he is affection for brāhmaṇas and fallen souls as his natural quality.
A child who tugged the king's robe thinking it was the gardener's, recognising the face only after the king has walked past — now stretches out arms behind him crying, please forgive, please come back. The brāhmaṇas have no other prayer left.
My note
Source: vedabase.io