SB 10.78.25 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

ऋषेर्भगवतो भूत्वा शिष्योऽधीत्य बहूनि च । सेतिहासपुराणानि धर्मशास्‍त्राणि सर्वश: ॥ २५ ॥ अदान्तस्याविनीतस्य वृथा पण्डितमानिन: । न गुणाय भवन्ति स्म नटस्येवाजितात्मन: ॥ २६ ॥

Verse text

ṛṣer bhagavato bhūtvā śiṣyo ’dhītya bahūni ca setihāsa-purāṇāni dharma-śāstrāṇi sarvaśaḥ adāntasyāvinītasya vṛthā paṇḍita-māninaḥ na guṇāya bhavanti sma naṭasyevājitātmanaḥ

Synonyms

ṛṣeḥ — of the sage (Vyāsadeva) ; bhagavataḥ — the incarnation of Godhead ; bhūtvā — becoming ; śiṣyaḥ — a disciple ; adhītya — studying ; bahūni — many ; ca — and ; sa — together with ; itihāsa — epic histories ; purāṇāni — and Purāṇas ; dharma — śāstrāṇi — the scriptures describing the religious duties of man ; sarvaśaḥ — fully ; adāntasya — for him who is not self-controlled ; avinītasya — not humble ; vṛthā — vainly ; paṇḍita — a scholarly authority ; māninaḥ — thinking himself ; na guṇāya — not leading to good qualities ; bhavanti sma — they have become ; naṭasya — of a stage performer ; iva — like ; ajita — unconquered ; ātmanaḥ — whose mind .

Translation

Although he is a disciple of the divine sage Vyāsa and has thoroughly learned many scriptures from him, including the lawbooks of religious duties and the epic histories and Purāṇas, all this study has not produced good qualities in him. Rather, his study of the scriptures is like an actor’s studying his part, for he is not self-controlled or humble and vainly presumes himself a scholarly authority, though he has failed to conquer his own mind.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Although he is a disciple of the divine sage Vyāsa and has thoroughly learned many scriptures from him, including the lawbooks of religious duties and the epic histories and Purāṇas, all this study has not produced good qualities in him. Rather, his study of the scriptures is like an actor's studying his part, for he is not self-controlled or humble and vainly presumes himself a scholarly authority, though he has failed to conquer his own mind. KB 10.78.25-26 “… although he has the good qualification of being a disciple of Lord Vyāsadeva, and although he has studied all the Vedic literature from this exalted personality, he was not submissive in the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, a person who is actually a brāhmaṇa and is very learned must automatically become very gentle also. But although Romaharṣaṇa Sūta was very learned and had been given the chance to become a brāhmaṇa, he had not become gentle. From this we can understand that one who is puffed up by material acquisitions cannot acquire the gentle behavior befitting a brāhmaṇa. The learning of such a person is as good as a valuable jewel decorating the hood of a serpent. Despite the valuable jewel on the hood, a serpent is still a serpent and is as fearful as an ordinary serpent. If a person does not become meek and humble, all his studies of the Vedas and Purāṇas and his vast knowledge of the śāstras are simply outward dress, like the costume of a theatrical artist dancing on the stage.

Purport

One might argue that Romaharṣaṇa committed an innocent mistake when he failed to recognize Lord Balarāma, but such an argument is refuted here by Lord Balarāma’s strong criticism.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Perhaps he is doing so out of ignorance. No, that cannot be because he is the pupil of Vyasa deva (rser bhagavato bhutva sisyo). His study of scriptures has not produced good qualities such as peacefulness.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

Vyāsa was an avatāra of the Lord and had written many scriptures on dharma. The studying did not produce qualities like control of the mind. Because of an ancient offense, he could not control his mind. Thus he could not control his senses. Therefore his learning was useless.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

Vyāsa was an avatāra of the Lord and had written many scriptures on dharma. Dharma-sāstras are the smṛtis. Itihāsa meams Mahābhārata. The studying did not produce qualities like control of the mind. Because of an ancient offense, he could not control his mind. Thus he could not control his senses. Therefore his learning was useless. Or after learning the Vedas, because of bad association, all the scriptures he studied did not bear fruit but rather false pride. An example is given. A person studies scriptures on drama to become a skillful actor, but it bears no result. It is useless. Or though an actor puts on the dress of a brāhmaṇa, this does not bear results. Or though one studies scriptures, one becomes an actor only by association with an actor. Sma indicates famous or certainly.