SB 10.52.30 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

कच्चिद् द्विजवरश्रेष्ठ धर्मस्ते वृद्धसम्मत: । वर्तते नातिकृच्छ्रेण सन्तुष्टमनस: सदा ॥ ३० ॥

Verse text

kaccid dvija-vara-śreṣṭha dharmas te vṛddha-sammataḥ vartate nāti-kṛcchreṇa santuṣṭa-manasaḥ sadā

Synonyms

kaccit — whether ; dvija — of the brāhmaṇas ; vara — first-class ; śreṣṭha — O best ; dharmaḥ — religious principles ; te — your ; vṛddha — by senior authorities ; sammataḥ — sanctioned ; vartate — are proceeding ; na — not ; ati — too much ; kṛcchreṇa — with difficulty ; santuṣṭa — fully satisfied ; manasaḥ — whose mind ; sadā — always .

Translation

[The Supreme Lord said:] O best of exalted brāhmaṇas, are your religious practices, sanctioned by senior authorities, proceeding without great difficulty? Is your mind always fully satisfied?

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

[The Supreme Lord said:] O best of exalted brāhmaṇas, are your religious practices, sanctioned by senior authorities, proceeding without great difficulty? Is your mind always fully satisfied? KB 10.52.30 “My dear brāhmaṇa, I hope that you are executing the religious principles without difficulty and that your mind is always peaceful.” Different classes of people in the social system are engaged in various professions, and when one inquires as to the well-being of a particular person, he should do so on the basis of that person’s occupation. Therefore, when one inquires as to the welfare of a brāhmaṇa, the questions should be worded according to his condition of life so as not to disturb him. A peaceful mind is the basis for becoming truthful, clean, equipoised, self-controlled and tolerant. Thus by attaining knowledge and knowing its practical application in life, one becomes convinced about the Absolute Truth. The brāhmaṇa knew Kṛṣṇa to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and still he accepted the respectful service of the Lord on the grounds of Vedic social convention. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was playing just like a human being. Because He belonged to the kṣatriya division of the social system and was a young boy, it was His duty to show respect to such a brāhmaṇa.

Purport

Here we have translated the word dharma as “religious practice,” although this does not fully convey the Sanskrit sense of the word. Kṛṣṇa did not appear within a secular society. The people in Vedic times could hardly imagine a society that did not understand the need to obey God’s law. Thus to them the word dharma conveyed a sense of duty in general, higher principles, prescribed duty and so on. It was automatically understood that such duties were within a religious context. But religion in those days was not a specific aspect or department of life, but rather a guiding light for all activities. Irreligious life was considered demoniac, and God’s hand was seen in everything.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

O best among the best of brāhmaṇas! Kṛṣṇa established the root of the reasons the brāhmaṇa is the best in three verses by first inquiring with compassion. He inquired about the purity by asking if there was agreement with the ancient twelve devotees like Yajña and his present gurus. Are the duties not too difficult to accomplish? He does not ask if his duties are being performed comfortably, without suffering. The intention is to indicate that the brāhmaṇa should be able to perform his duties without intense suffering. It is understood the brāhmaṇa has been successful. “Does success not result from effort?” Even in not attaining results he should have a satisfied mind.