SB 10.51.40 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

तथाप्यद्यतनान्यङ्ग श‍ृणुष्व गदतो मम । विज्ञापितो विरिञ्चेन पुराहं धर्मगुप्तये । भूमेर्भारायमाणानामसुराणां क्षयाय च ॥ ३९ ॥ अवतीर्णो यदुकुले गृह आनकदुन्दुभे: । वदन्ति वासुदेवेति वसुदेवसुतं हि माम् ॥ ४० ॥

Verse text

tathāpy adyatanāny aṅga śṛnuṣva gadato mama vijṣāpito viriṣcena purāhaṁ dharma-guptaye bhūmer bhārāyamāṇānām asurāṇāṁ kṣayāya ca avatīrṇo yadu-kule gṛha ānakadundubheḥ vadanti vāsudeveti vasudeva-sutaṁ hi mām

Synonyms

tathā api — nevertheless ; adyatanāni — those current ; aṅga — O friend ; śṛṇuṣva — just hear ; gadataḥ — who am speaking ; mama — from Me ; vijṣāpitaḥ — sincerely requested ; viriṣcena — by Lord Brahmā ; purā — in the past ; aham — I ; dharma — religious principles ; guptaye — to protect ; bhūmeḥ — for the earth ; bhārāyamāṇānām — who are a burden ; asurāṇām — of the demons ; kṣayāya — for the destruction ; ca — and ; avatīrṇaḥ — descended ; yadu — of Yadu ; kule — into the dynasty ; gṛhe — in the home ; ānakadundubheḥ — of Vasudeva ; vadanti — people call ; vāsudevaḥ iti — by the name Vāsudeva ; vasudeva — sutam — the son of Vasudeva ; hi — indeed ; mām — Me .

Translation

Nonetheless, O friend, I will tell you about My current birth, name and activities. Kindly hear. Some time ago, Lord Brahmā requested Me to protect religious principles and destroy the demons who were burdening the earth. Thus I descended in the Yadu dynasty, in the home of Ānakadundubhi. Indeed, because I am the son of Vasudeva, people call Me Vāsudeva.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Nonetheless, O friend, I will tell you about My current birth, name and activities. Kindly hear. Some time ago, Lord Brahmā requested Me to protect religious principles and destroy the demons who were burdening the earth. Thus I descended in the Yadu dynasty, in the home of Ānakadundubhi. Indeed, because I am the son of Vasudeva, people call Me Vāsudeva. KB 10.51.39-40 “But since you are so eager to know about Me, I may inform you that I have now appeared on this planet just to annihilate the demoniac principles of the people in general and reestablish the religious principles enjoined in the Vedas. I have been invited for this purpose by Brahmā, the superintending deity of this universe, and thus I have now appeared in the dynasty of the Yadus as one of their family members. I have specifically taken My birth as the son of Vasudeva in the Yadu dynasty, and people therefore know Me as Vāsudeva, the son of Vasudeva.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

However, on your request, hear from me as I speak about my present birth and activities, though they are difficult to understand. Hear only, but do not desire to understand in truth or to a great degree. I was requested previously to protect the devotees (dharma-guptaye) and destroy the demons. I have now appeared in the Yadu dynasty. “As Vāsudeva, your name was previously famous as he in whom all beings reside (vasanti yatra bhūtāni), taking the name as an ordinary compound. But this name appears to be recent because of special qualities which had previously been hidden.” I am famous as the son of Vasudeva. I am most famous (hi) among all the forms of the Lord who appeared as sons such as Rāma, since I am the main form.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

Hear about my present birth from me with attention. I was requested by Brahmā, along with Śiva and Bhūmi, arriving on the bank of the milk ocean according to rules. I should protect dharma in order to protect the devotees. He speaks of his birth first. I appeared, not arising from a womb, as the son of Vasudeva, who was born the sound of drums from heaven. This indicates his fame and greatness. They call me Vāsudeva. “This name already exists. He is the presiding deity of citta.” I am the son of Vasudeva. That is the well-known name at this time. That is me alone. Though it is possible to have that name as a son of Rāma or other avatāras, it is famous as my name, because of affection for my father. Other names like Kṛṣṇa, Dāmodara, Govinda are not mentioned as they are secret. Since he is not qualified to hear about this birth, his identity in the next verse is described. And later, in describing his activities, his pastimes in Gokula are not mentioned, but the description of his killing demons is explained.