Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.51.30
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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śuśrūṣatām
—
of those who are eager to hear
Desiderative present participle of √śru. Śuśrūṣā — the will to listen — is one of bhakti's nine limbs (śravaṇam). Mucukunda's first sādhana posture is exactly the one Parīkṣit holds and the one the Bhāgavata commends throughout.
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janma
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birth
From √jan. The first of Kṛṣṇa's 'three coordinates' to be asked. In Gītā 4.9 Bhagavān says janma karma ca me divyam — knowing His birth and activities truly liberates. Mucukunda is already, without knowing it, soliciting the BG 4.9 disclosure.
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karma
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activity
Bhagavān's karma is divya — transcendental. Gauḍīyas insist karma of the Lord is not bound by karmic law; it is līlā. Mucukunda asks for it; in verse 41 Kṛṣṇa will list Kālanemi, Kaṁsa, Pralamba, and Kālayavana.
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gotram
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lineage
From gotra — clan, descent. Even Bhagavān has a gotra in līlā (the Yadu-Vṛṣṇi-Sātvata line). Gauḍīyas read this not as a limitation but as His chosen way of being known — Bhagavān always belongs somewhere in His pastimes.
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nara-pum-gava
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O foremost among men
Compound: nara (man) + pum-gava (bull-among, foremost). Mucukunda is still hedging — calling Him 'best among men' rather than 'Lord of all worlds.' His recognition is gradient; full śaraṇāgati arrives by verse 56.
When the Supreme Lord descends to this world, He certainly becomes nara-puṅgava, the most eminent member of human society. Of course, the Lord is not actually a human being, and Mucukunda’s questions will lead to a clarification of this point. Thus the term śuśrūṣatām, “to us, who are sincerely eager to hear,” indicates that Mucukunda is inquiring in a noble way for his own and others’ benefit.
Please tell us who want to hear. Mucukunda speaks in the plural to indicate his own high position, in order to get an answer from Krsna. If Krsna thought he was a low class person he would be unworthy of an answer.
O best of men! He addresses him in this way since Kṛṣṇa is acting like a human, touching the earth. Please tell me, eager to hear about your pleasing (avyalīkam) birth, activities and name (gotram). The passive is used to indicate respect for his birth, activities and name. Avyalīkam also mean truthfully. The word vā indicates all the items, or alternatives. Though secret, one of these can be revealed. He says “If it pleases you” out of humility.
Though he sees the four armed form directly, he also remembers that devas should not touch the earth. Unable to determine that he is Viṣṇu, he calls to him, considering him to be a remarkable human. O best among men! Because you are the best of humans please describe at your discretion (avyalīkam) your birth. Vyalīka means disagreeable. Or describe truthfully. He speaks in the plural to show great respect on seeing him. Vā means everything, or suggests alternatives. What can I do if you do not describe the birth because it is secret? Or tell what you want to do (karma). If you cannot do that, tell your family lineage and name at least. That is, if you want to. This is uttered out of great politeness.
The cave has darkened into a guru-room. Mucukunda asks for janma, karma, and gotram — the three coordinates that locate any Person — and in asking, places himself as student. The bhakta's question is itself sādhana.
My note
Source: vedabase.io