Devanagari
श्रीभगवानुवाच
ब्रह्मन् धर्मस्य वक्ताहं कर्ता तदनुमोदिता ।
तच्छिक्षयन् लोकमिममास्थित: पुत्र मा खिद: ॥ ४० ॥
Verse text
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
brahman dhannasya vaktāhaṁ
kartā tad-anumoditā
tac chikṣayan lokam imam
āsthitaḥ putra mā khidaḥ
Synonyms
śrī
—
bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Lord said
;
brahman
—
O brāhmaṇa
;
dharmasya
—
of religion
;
vaktā
—
the speaker
;
aham
—
I
;
kartā
—
the executor
;
tat
—
of it
;
anumoditā
—
the sanctioner
;
tat
—
it
;
śikṣayan
—
teaching
;
lokam
—
to the world
;
imam
—
in this
;
āsthitaḥ
—
situated
;
putra
—
O son
;
mā khidaḥ
—
do not be disturbed .
Translation
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O brāhmaṇa, I am the speaker of religion, its performer and sanctioner. I observe religious principles to teach them to the world, My child, so do not be disturbed.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O brāhmaṇa, I am the speaker of religion, its performer and sanctioner. I observe religious principles to teach them to the world, My child, so do not be disturbed.
KB 10.69.40
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, replied to Nārada as follows: “My dear Nārada, O sage among the demigods, you know that I am the supreme instructor and perfect follower of all religious principles, as well as the supreme enforcer of such principles. I am therefore personally executing such religious principles in order to teach the whole world how to act. My dear son, it is My desire that you not be bewildered by such demonstrations of My internal energy.”
Purport
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that Lord Kṛṣṇa wanted to dispel Nārada’s distress, which the sage felt because he saw Lord Kṛṣṇa worshiping the demigods and even Nārada himself. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feelings as follows: “As I state in the
Bhagavad-gītā,
yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ:
[‘Whatever a great person does, ordinary people follow.’] Thus I bathed your feet today in order to help propagate the principles of religion. In the past, before I began My pastimes of directly teaching religious principles, you came and offered prayers to Me after I had killed the Keśī demon, but I simply listened to your elaborate prayers and glorification and did nothing to honor you. Just remember this and consider.
“Do not think that you have committed an offense by allowing Me to bathe your feet today and accept the water as holy remnants. Just as a son does not offend his father by touching him with his foot while sitting on the father’s lap, so you should understand that in the same way, My son, you have not offended Me.”
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
"I, your devoted servant, have great sorrow in your presence, because you have washed with your lotus hands my unfortunate feet, hardened by traveling."
In response to this, Krsna speaks this verse. "Therefore I am present to teach people (lokam) this dharma. I am a householder ksatriya and you are a brahmana . If I do not worship you when you come to my house, then how can dharma preached by me through proper conduct be established? " yad yad acarati sresthas tad tad evetaro janah." Thus, just to teach dharma, I have washed your feet toda. Before I began my pastimes of preaching dharma, when I killed Kesi, you approached me with many praises. At that time I just listened and did not worship you at all. Please remember that and consider."
"That may be, but in washing my feet, I have committed offense in letting you drink the water that touched my feet."
"Oh son" he addresses Narada with affection to pacify him, "You should understand that just as there is no offense for the son in touching his father’s body with his foot, there is no offense for you if I touch your feet or drink your foot wash."
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
The Lord spoke, understanding what was really on Nārada’s mind since he was Hṛṣīkeśa. Since I am the speaker of dharma, I must perform dharma. Thus I give joy to others by performing dharma (anumoditā). Otherwise no one will respect dharma. Therefore I teach this dharma to the people. By words, by actions and by mentality, and by hiss very self, he establishes dharma. O brāhmaṇa! You know this since you know the Vedas. To please people like you I protect the path of the Vedas. I remain here for that purpose. Not seeing Nārada give up his sadness, since he desired to leave and spread the Lord’s bhakti by chanting his glories, he called out with affection, “O son!” to make him give up his respectful attitude of which he did not approve, by showing mercy with the proper mood of affection.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
I am the sanctioner of dharma (tad-anumoditā) or therefore I cause joy when persons perform dharma. I instituted dharma by words, by actions and by feelings. O Nārada, filled with the Vedas (brahman)! You know this. Or by protecting the path of the Vedas, I give happiness to people like you. I perform (āsthitaḥ) this dharma to teach people. O son! You are the object of my affection. He says this to pacify him. Or do not become foolishly unhappy by not understanding the truth. By your great bhakti you can understand my intentions. Thus he calls out to him with affection, “O son!”