Devanagari
विहाय वित्तं प्रचुरमभीतौ भीरुभीतवत् ।
पद्भ्यां पद्मपलाशाभ्यां चेलतुर्बहुयोजनम् ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
vihāya vittaṁ pracuram
abhītau bhīru-bhīta-vat
padbhyāṁ palāśābhyāṁ
celatur bahu-yojanam
Synonyms
vihāya
—
abandoning
;
vittam
—
the riches
;
pracuram
—
abundant
;
abhītau
—
actually unafraid
;
bhīru
—
like cowards
;
bhīta
—
vat — as if frightened
;
padbhyām
—
with Their feet
;
padma
—
of lotuses
;
palāśābhyām
—
like petals
;
celatuḥ
—
They went
;
bahu
—
yojanam — for many yojanas (one yojana is slightly more than eight miles) .
Translation
Abandoning the abundant riches, fearless but feigning fear, They went many yojanas on Their lotuslike feet.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Abandoning the abundant riches, fearless but feigning fear, They went many yojanas on Their lotuslike feet.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
How they acted as human beings is described in this verse. Assuming the activities and qualities of human beings (manusya cestam apannau) however is their very nature. This is not real reason for their fleeing however, because even though they many times assume the human role, in those cases they have shown their omniscience and omnipotence. It cannot also be explained as some immature display out of prema, because there were no devotees present there. Nor can it be explained as an imitation of fear. Because as Uddhava said "Even the intelligent are disturbed, thinking you flee out of fear." (sb3.4.16) In the same verse however , Uddhava states that being the protector of Dvaraka, he fled in great fear. By examining this statement, one will understand the reason for fleeing. Though without fear (abhitau), Krsna and Balarama decided to show fear acting like fearful persons (bhiru bhitavat). This expresses a contradiction.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Without attachment they gave up the great wealth since this would slow down the enemy who was greedy for that great wealth. Or the two were completely without fear (pracuram). But just as a person in great fear flees, they fled as if in fear using their tender feet. This indicates pain on the part of the speaker.