Devanagari
कथमालक्षित: पौरै: सम्प्राप्त: कुरुजाङ्गलान् ।
उन्मत्तमूकजडवद्विचरन् गजसाह्वये ॥ ६ ॥
Verse text
katham ālakṣitaḥ pauraiḥ
samprāptaḥ kuru-jāṅgalān
unmatta-mūka-jaḍavad
vicaran gaja-sāhvaye
Synonyms
katham
—
how
;
ālakṣitaḥ
—
recognized
;
pauraiḥ
—
by the citizens
;
samprāptaḥ
—
reaching
;
kuru
—
jāṅgalān — the Kuru-jāṅgala provinces
;
unmatta
—
mad
;
mūka
—
dumb
;
jaḍavat
—
stunted
;
vicaran
—
wandering
;
gaja
—
sāhvaye — Hastināpura .
Translation
How was he [Śrīla Śukadeva, the son of Vyāsa] recognized by the citizens when he entered the city of Hastināpura [now Delhi], after wandering in the provinces of Kuru and Jāṅgala, appearing like a madman, dumb and retarded?
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
After coming to the province of Kuru-jāṅgala, Śukadeva wandered in Hastināpura (the capital), like a madman, a mute or a fool. How did the people of the city recognize him?
Purport
The present city of Delhi was formerly known as Hastināpura because it was first established by King Hastī. Gosvāmī Śukadeva, after leaving his paternal home, was roaming like a madman, and therefore it was very difficult for the citizens to recognize him in his exalted position. A sage is not, therefore, recognized by sight, but by hearing. One should approach a
sādhu
or great sage not to see but to hear him. If one is not prepared to hear the words of a
sādhu,
there is no profit. Śukadeva Gosvāmī was a
sādhu
who could speak on the transcendental activities of the Lord. He did not satisfy the whims of ordinary citizens. He was recognized when he spoke on the subject of
Bhāgavatam,
and he never attempted jugglery like a magician. Outwardly he appeared to be a retarded, dumb madman, but in fact he was the most elevated transcendental personality.
Commentary (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Kuru-jāṅgala is the name of a province. Gaja-sāhvaye means “in the place named after the elephant — Hastināpura.”