Devanagari
ननु स्वार्थविमूढानां प्रमत्तानां गृहेहया ।
अहो न: स्मारयामास गोपवाक्यै: सतां गति: ॥ ४५ ॥
Verse text
nanu svārtha-vimūḍhānāṁ
pramattānāṁ gṛhehayā
aho naḥ smārayām āsa
gopa-vākyaiḥ satāṁ gatiḥ
Synonyms
nanu
—
indeed
;
sva
—
artha — about their own true benefit
;
vimūḍhānām
—
who were bewildered
;
pramattānām
—
who were intoxicated
;
gṛha
—
īhayā — with their household endeavors
;
aho
—
ah
;
naḥ
—
us
;
smārayām āsa
—
He reminded about
;
gopa
—
vākyaiḥ — by the words of cowherds
;
satām
—
of the transcendental souls
;
gatiḥ
—
the ultimate destination .
Translation
Indeed, infatuated as we are with our household affairs, we have deviated completely from the real aim of our life. But now just see how the Lord, through the words of these simple cowherd boys, has reminded us of the ultimate destination of all true transcendentalists.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Indeed, infatuated as we are with our household affairs, we have deviated completely from the real aim of our life. But now just see how the Lord, through the words of these simple cowherd boys, has reminded us of the ultimate destination of all true transcendentalists.
KB 10.23.45
Although we are considered to be masters in all purificatory processes, we did not actually know what their goal is because we are too much attached to the materialistic way of life. Even though we were reminded of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma by the cowherd boys, we disregarded Them. We now think that the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply played a trick of mercy on us by sending His friends to beg food from us.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
"As he is full in his desires, ever satisfied what need does he have of us? It cannot be anything else except causless mercy (anyatha). The lord begging for food is demeaning for him. It is a criticism of our material activities (vidambanam)."
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
This verse shows how Kṛṣṇa is uttama-śloka.
svargāpavargayoḥ puṁsāṁ rasāyāṁ bhuvi sampadām
sarvāsām api siddhīnāṁ mūlaṁ tac-caraṇārcanam
Devotional service to the Lord’s lotus feet is the root cause of all the perfections a person can find in heaven, in liberation, in the subterranean regions and on earth. SB 10.81.19
There can be no perfection of goals without bhakti. Thus they say it is certain (nūnam) that they have deviated. They were completely bewildered about their goal because they were completely involved with household rites. He has made us, bewildered by involvement in household duties, remember him, since he is the goal of those who surrender to him according to individual qualification as mentioned in the Vedas (satām gatiḥ). Or, he is the goal of the devotees. Thus only by mercy have we been made to realization him. Or, he is the shelter of devotees who are most merciful. How astonishing (aho)! Though he educated us since he is most merciful as Uttama-śloka, we, being unintelligent, did not understand.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
“Why did he ask us for rice?” Nanu (perhaps) indicates questioning. Or the verse shows how Kṛṣṇa is uttama-śloka. Certainly (nanu) we were ignorant of our real interest, bhakti, since we were absorbed in household activities, inattentive to the Lord. Or we were completely insane with household actions and completely proud. He made us remember him because he is the goal of persons following dharma. We were absorbed in sacrifices, thinking we were following dharma. Or He is the goal of the devotees. How astonishing (aho)! Though he is understood to be most worthy of praise, we did not realize this, because of our stupidity.