Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.41.32
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
-
rajakam
—
washerman
Accusative of rajaka — one who dyes/launders. The rajaka belongs to the king's household, which makes his hostility doubly tragic. Gauḍīyas read his proximity-without-bhakti as a paradigm: closeness to Kaṁsa-tattva (kings, power) hardens the heart faster than distance.
-
gada-agrajaḥ
—
Kṛṣṇa, the elder brother of Gada
Compound: Gada (Vasudeva's son by Sutanu) + agra-ja (elder brother). The Bhāgavatam names Kṛṣṇa here by family-relation to Gada — quietly reminding the reader that this 'forest-boy' is in fact the eldest son of the city's royal family.
-
ati-uttamāni
—
first class
Compound: ati (very) + uttama (highest). Kṛṣṇa asks for the best — not because He needs the best, but because the rajaka now has the chance to give Him the best. The opportunity is graded by the request.
-
ayācata
—
requested
Imperfect of √yāc — to ask, to beg. The same verb used for Vāmana's begging from Bali (14:14 referent). Bhagavān becomes a yācaka before His devotees; the rajaka does not recognize what is happening.
One who washes clothing is called rajakah. If he also dyes clothing he is called rangakara.
The great joy of the good citizens has been described. Now the opposite reaction of the wicked is described, starting with the washer man. This is described in six verses. Rajakaṁ kaṣcid indicates a loyal follower of Kaṁsa with a demonic nature. Viṣṇu Purāṇa describes him as a wicked follower of Kaṁsa (tasya durātmanaḥ). He had some cloth for selling. However to deceive Kṛṣṇa, he said the cloth was for Kaṁsa. He was going from the washing place into the city. Kṛṣṇa’s glance upon him was the dyer’s only auspiciousness for it is said that a dyer with freshly washed cloth is inauspicious. The alliteration in rajakam and raṅgakāram is repeated with the word gadagrajaḥ. Or gadāgrajaḥ indicates that though Gada was famous for good qualities, Kṛṣṇa his elder brother who was Svayam Bhagavān would have so much more qualities. This phrase also indicates that at the beginning of pastimes with the Yadus, Gada, chief among all the brothers of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, had been born. There were two Gadas. Three sons of Rohiṇī were Balarāma, Gada and Sāraṇa. Another wife of Vasudeva called Devarakṣitā had sons starring with Gada. That is the Gada mentioned in this verse, since Rohiṇī’s son Gada had not been born yet. This is understood from other sources also. Gada was a younger relative but played with Kṛṣṇa in Mathurā like an elder brother. Kaccid gadāgrajaḥ saumya karoti pura-yoṣitām: O gentle Uddhava, is the elder brother of Gada now bestowing on the city women the pleasure that actually belongs to us? (SB 10.47.40) Rukmiṇī later says: pūrteṣṭa-datta-niyama-vrata-deva-vipra gurv-arcanādibhir alaṁ bhagavān pareśaḥ ārādhito yadi gadāgraja etya pāṇiṁ gṛhṇātu me na damaghoṣa-sutādayo ’nye If I have sufficiently worshiped the Supreme Lord by pious works, sacrifices, charity, rituals and vows, and also by worshiping the devatās, brāhmaṇas and gurus, then may Gadāgraja come and take my hand, and not Damaghoṣa’s son or anyone else. SB 10.52.40
A king's washerman, dyeing royal cloth, walks past — Kṛṣṇa stops him and asks for new clothes. The Lord, who provides garments for the universe, plays the role of a youth in need, opening for the washerman a door that the washerman is about to slam shut.
My note
Source: vedabase.io