Devanagari
अहो ब्रह्मविदां वाचो नासत्या: सन्ति कर्हिचित् ।
गर्गो यदाह भगवानन्वभावि तथैव तत् ॥ ५७ ॥
Verse text
aho brahma-vidāṁ vāco
nāsatyāḥ santi karhicit
gargo yad āha bhagavān
anvabhāvi tathaiva tat
Synonyms
aho
—
how wonderful it is
;
brahma
—
vidām — of persons who have full knowledge of Brahman, transcendence
;
vācaḥ
—
the words
;
na
—
never
;
asatyāḥ
—
untruth
;
santi
—
become
;
karhicit
—
at any time
;
gargaḥ
—
Garga Muni
;
yat
—
whatever
;
āha
—
predicted
;
bhagavān
—
Garga Muni, the most powerful
;
anvabhāvi
—
is exactly happening
;
tathā eva
—
as
;
tat
—
that .
Translation
The words of persons in full knowledge of Brahman never become untrue. It is very wonderful that whatever Garga Muni predicted we are now actually experiencing in all detail.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
The words of persons in full knowledge of Brahman never become untrue. It is very wonderful that whatever Gargamuni predicted we are now actually experiencing in all detail.
KB 10.11.57
Thus they remembered the words of Garga Muni, who had foretold, by dint of his vast knowledge of the Vedas and astrology, that this boy would be attacked by many demons. Now they were actually seeing that this was coming true, word for word.
Purport
The purpose of human life is indicated in the
Brahma-sūtra:
athāto brahma jijṣāsā.
To make one’s life perfect — in the past, present and future — one must learn about Brahman. Because of intense affection, Nanda Mahārāja could not understand Kṛṣṇa as He is. Garga Muni was able to know everything, past, present and future, by studying the
Vedas,
but Nanda Mahārāja could not understand Kṛṣṇa directly. Because of his intense love for Kṛṣṇa, he forgot who Kṛṣṇa was and could not understand Kṛṣṇa’s potency. Although Kṛṣṇa is Nārāyaṇa Himself, Garga Muni did not disclose this. Thus Nanda Mahārāja appreciated the words of Garga Muni, but because of his deep affection he could not understand who Kṛṣṇa was, although Garga Muni had said that Kṛṣṇa’s qualities would be exactly like those of Nārāyaṇa.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
The reason for the condition mentioned above is now given. Garga said that he had qualities like Narayana. Seated in the meeting room, they discussed again and again about the naughtiness of the boy and his killing of Vatsasura and Bakasura, and they composed songs which they sang again and again (katham kurvantah). They did not know the pain of material existence or pay attention to knowledge of material existence (bhavasya vedanam). Other elderly cowherd men coming from other places informed Nanda about liberation from the material world. "Half your life is gone. Why do you remain immersed in discussing about child, family and wife? Why don’t you concentrate on knowledge, vairagya, austerity and remembrance of Narayan to get deliverance from the material world?" Though requested in this way, Nanda and the other cowherd men did not pay any attention to that (bhavasya vedanam na avindan) . TO interpret the meaning to be "they did not enjoy the pains of material life" is not acceptable. Bhagavatam states the exalted nature of the cowherd men and women: these cowherd men and women are not touched by the material world born of ignorance (10.6.40). As stated before, there is no question that they could be affected by the pains of the material world. In this way, whatever appears as material pains is only nourishing to the pastimes and therefore is called lila maya.
Not only did they speak about Krsna and his past and future pastimes, but they also played with Krsna (ramamanah). Thus they did not know the sufferings of materialistic person (bhava vedanam), though they were living in the material world. When they say "I am suffering from hunger," that hunger is not related to the material world.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Though they showed the facts, out of great affection as parents, they speak with wonder. The words of the devotee or persons who know the conclusion of the Vedas cannot be untrue. What Garga said is now experienced. Though Garga’s words were secret, Nanda revealed Kṛṣṇa’s glory somewhat to the cowherds since he was honest in nature and had affection for them as friends.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
Though they knew the greatness of Kṛṣṇa, they did not recognize him as the Lord out of great affection. He is some great person. They confirmed their thoughts with Garga’s words. Aho indicates astonishment. The words of the devotees, who know the meaning of the Vedas, are never untrue. What he said has been experienced (anvabhāvi). Because Nanda was a great devotee and had great affection for his friends, he revealed to the cowherds a little of Garga’s words glorifying Kṛṣṇa though they were secret words. This increased their affection for Kṛṣṇa, since they had natural affection for him.