FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.29.26

అస్వర్గ్యమయశస్యం చ ఫల్గు కృచ్ఛ్రం భయావహమ్ । జుగుప్సితం చ సర్వత్ర హ్యౌపపత్యం కులస్త్రియ: ॥ ౨౬ ॥
asvargyam ayaśasyaṁ ca
[asvargyam ayashasyam cha]
phalgu kṛcchraṁ bhayāvaham
[phalgu krichchram bhayaavaham]
jugupsitaṁ ca sarvatra
[jugupsitam cha sarvatra]
hy aupapatyaṁ kula-striyaḥ
[hy aupapatyam kula-striyah]
asvargyam — not leading to heaven ayaśasyam — unfavorable for a good reputation ca — and phalgu — insignificant kṛcchram — difficult bhaya - āvaham — creating fear jugupsitam — contemptible ca — and sarvatra — in all cases hi — indeed aupapatyam — adulterous affairs kula - striyaḥ — for a woman coming from a respectable family .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
asvargyam ayaśasyaṁ ca
asvargyam
not leading to heaven
ayaśasyam
unfavorable for a good reputation
ca
and
phalgu kṛcchraṁ bhayāvaham
phalgu
insignificant
kṛcchram
difficult
bhaya - āvaham
creating fear
jugupsitaṁ ca sarvatra
jugupsitam
contemptible
ca
and
sarvatra
in all cases
hi
indeed
hy aupapatyaṁ kula-striyaḥ
aupapatyam
adulterous affairs
kula - striyaḥ
for a woman coming from a respectable family .
  • asvargyam — not conducive to heaven
    A-(not) + svargya (heavenly). Kṛṣṇa's first charge against extramarital affairs. Gauḍīyas note the gopīs are not seeking svarga; the charge is irrelevant to their motive. Yet the gopīs will not cite this defense — they take the worldly judgment on its face and overrule it with prema.
  • ayaśasyam — destructive of reputation
    A-(not) + yaśasya (reputation-yielding). Loss of yaśas. In verse 8 the family tried to stop the gopīs; in verse 26 reputation is added to the threat. Gauḍīyas observe: ayaśas in lokika eyes is often the signature of the highest devotee.
  • phalgu — trivial
    Phalgu — light, of little substance. Kṛṣṇa calls adultery phalgu — trivial. The gopīs will reply (verse 33) that what is trivial is precisely the alternative — husbands, children, and relatives who 'simply give us trouble.'
  • aupapatyam — adulterous affair
    Abstract of upapati (paramour). The lokika legal term for parakīya. Gauḍīyas distinguish ordinary aupapatya from parakīya-bhāva: the first is selfish, the second selfless. The chapter's whole defense rests on this distinction.
  • kula-striyaḥ — of a woman from a respectable family
    Compound: kula (family) + strī. Kṛṣṇa appeals to family standing. Gauḍīyas observe that the gopīs respond not by denying their kula but by raising their kula — they are of Bhagavān's own family, His eternal dāsīs.
For a woman from a respectable family, petty adulterous affairs are always condemned. They bar her from heaven, ruin her reputation and bring her difficulty and fear.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
For a woman from a respectable family, petty adulterous affairs are always condemned. They bar her from heaven, ruin her reputation and bring her difficulty and fear.
Commentary

"You naturally had some ordinary affection for me, but stronger attraction which is against religious principles should always be given up Illicit connctions do not lead to svarga loka." "We do not care for svarga loka." " But it will also destroy your reputation." "We don’t care for reputation." "But such affairs are very insignificant." "You are lying, they are not insignificant. They are experienced as most wonderful." "But such affairs are full of difficulties like opposing husbands." "How can that be? For bold women, hard to get, opposing elements are the supreme weapon of attraction in love. Though their suffering appears great, in their hearts they are joyful. This is the conclusion of rasa sastra. Such suffering is rather a cause of joy for us infatuated women." "But this is very fearful for this and the next life, being forbidden by common scriptures." "How can that be? Rasa sastra says, ‘What is forbidden and uncommon for the docile woman becomes very attractive to the heart of the clever, bold woman (nagari)’ therefore these affairs produce more rasa." "This activity is always condemned for women of reputable families. Even if you readily consent to bear all condemnation to fulfill your desires, how can I allow myself to be the cause of your condemnation, as I have such affection for you? Therefore I say, please return to Vraja." The other meaning is as follows. "Everywhere in the world illicit affairs are condemned. But here, you have heard from the mouth of Garga that I am equal to Narayana. Thus even though it is being unfaithful on your part, your association with me cannot be condemned, for as the Supreme lord, I am above all auspicious and inauspicious actions."

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

“O prince of Vraja! We have not given up our husbands just on your order. They have always been husbands in name only. We should treat you as our husband.” Fearing this statement, Kṛṣṇa speaks this verse. By criticizing their long cherished desire for him and disguising their actions as most abominable, he speaks with hatred. Such actions are unfavorable for attaining Svarga. O desirous women! Since that is not presently visible, you may not consider it. But you must consider fame in this lifetime. Your conduct will destroy that fame. All previously earned reputation will be destroyed. “Who can possible think about such esoteric things?” But this will make you useless and insecure (phalgu). “But you can make us secure with you!” That can be achieved only with great suffering (kṛcchram). “O independent lion! It can be easily achieved by you since you wander at will in Vraja and Vṛndāvana.” By illicit affairs you will obtain fear sometimes from your husbands and others, and fear concerning afterlife. “O Kṛṣṇa with lips worshipped by nectar personified! Depending on you, we will be indifferent to everything. Why do we have to fear anything?” Such conduct and aspiration will for certain (hi) be criticized in your homes and other places also. “O supreme knower of truth! By attaining our desire, criticism is easily tolerable.” You are all born of good families. Since this will tarnish the family, it is most improper for women of good families. Such acts must be completely avoided. Actually however, he speaks in this way to increase their longing. Another meaning is as in the previous verse. The man attained according to one’s love is called the husband and the opposite is called illicit (upapati). Seeing that society takes the opposite meaning, he quotes smṛti scriptures as a joke with clever meaning. Aupapatyam in this verse means “being near the husband.” Being near the husband destroys chances of attaining Svarga: serving such a husband is the complete opposite (para) of dharma.

Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Apaishunam (Non-slander)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Asteya (Non-stealing / Honesty)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)
Related verses
Concepts
Dharma

The smṛti's verdict on adultery is a wall built brick by brick across the road the gopīs have already taken. Kṛṣṇa adds bricks; the gopīs have wings.

📝 My note

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