Devanagari
गिरयो मुमुचुस्तोयं क्वचिन्न मुमुचु: शिवम् ।
यथा ज्ञानामृतं काले ज्ञानिनो ददते न वा ॥ ३६ ॥
Verse text
girayo mumucus toyaṁ
kvacin na mumucuḥ śivam
yathā jṣānāmṛtaṁ kāle
jṣānino dadate na vā
Synonyms
girayaḥ
—
the mountains
;
mumucuḥ
—
released
;
toyam
—
their water
;
kvacit
—
sometimes
;
na mumucuḥ
—
they did not release
;
śivam
—
pure
;
yathā
—
just as
;
jṣāna
—
of transcendental knowledge
;
amṛtam
—
the nectar
;
kāle
—
at the appropriate time
;
jṣāninaḥ
—
experts in spiritual knowledge
;
dadate
—
bestow
;
na vā
—
or not .
Translation
During this season the mountains sometimes released their pure water and sometimes did not, just as experts in transcendental science sometimes give the nectar of transcendental knowledge and sometimes do not.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
During this season the mountains sometimes released their pure water and sometimes did not, just as experts in transcendental science sometimes give the nectar of transcendental knowledge and sometimes do not.
KB 10.20.36
Sometimes in autumn the falls come down from the top of the hill to supply clean water, and sometimes they stop. Similarly, sometimes great saintly persons distribute clear knowledge, and sometimes they are silent.
Purport
The first part of this chapter described the rainy season, and the second part has been dealing with the autumn season, which begins when the rain stops. During the rainy season water always flows from the mountains, but during the autumn the water sometimes flows and sometimes does not. Similarly, great saintly teachers sometimes speak expansively on spiritual knowledge, and sometimes they are silent. The self-realized soul is closely in touch with the Supreme Soul, and according to His desires a competent spiritual scientist may or may not describe the Absolute Truth, depending on the specific circumstances.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Jnanamrtam here refers to teachings about the Supreme Lord. Jnaninah are such devotees as Narada, Jada Bharata and Prahlada. They gave knowledge to the hunter, Rahugana, and the children of the demons, and not to others. They give to those fortunate souls who have desire to know. In a similar way only in some canals in the autumn season is there clear water from the mountains.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
The teacher gives mercy because of the good qualities of the student. The mountains release water into the Gaṅgā and Yamunā channels rather than small troughs. The mountains release water and the jñānīs release knowledge in order that it may be received. This depends on the mountains and jñānīs rather than the recipients.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
The mountains sometimes release pure water (śivam) and sometimes they do not release pure water, but release contaminated water. Since there is no rain, the mountains keep the remaining small quantity. Similarly the knower of truth gives pure knowledge in the form of bhakti at the time (kale) the devotee has strong prema. At other times he gives insignificant jñāna concerning ātmā.