Devanagari
सन्निकर्षोऽत्र मर्त्यानामनादरणकारणम् ।
गाङ्गं हित्वा यथान्याम्भस्तत्रत्यो याति शुद्धये ॥ ३१ ॥
Verse text
sannikarṣo ’tra martyānām
anādaraṇa-kāraṇam
gāṅgaṁ hitvā yathānyāmbhas
tatratyo yāti śuddhaye
Synonyms
sannikarṣaḥ
—
proximity
;
atra
—
here (in this world)
;
martyānām
—
for mortals
;
anādaraṇa
—
of disregard
;
kāraṇam
—
a cause
;
gāṅgam
—
(the water) of the Ganges
;
hitvā
—
leaving
;
yathā
—
as
;
anya
—
other
;
ambhaḥ
—
to water
;
tatratyaḥ
—
one who lives near it
;
yāti
—
goes
;
śuddhaye
—
for purification .
Translation
In this world familiarity breeds contempt. For example, one who lives on the banks of the Ganges might travel to some other body of water to be purified.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
In this world familiarity breeds contempt. For example, one who lives on the banks of the Ganges might travel to some other body of water to be purified.
KB 10.84.31
“It is said that familiarity breeds contempt. As such, Vasudeva, having Kṛṣṇa as his son, does not regard Kṛṣṇa with awe and veneration. Sometimes it is seen that persons living on the bank of the Ganges do not consider the Ganges very important, and they go far away to take their baths at a place of pilgrimage.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Indeed, he knew that Krsna was the Lord from his very birth, but living close to him bred familiarity. That is expressed in this verse. Narada knew that the cause of Vasudeva not seeing Krsna as God was Vasudeva’s prema, but at that great gathering he explained things according to the common man’s level, not describing the greatly confidential highest truth about prema. Hearing this verse from Narada, it is certain that Vasudeva would increase his respect for Krsna as the Lord. For men proximity is a cause of lack of reverence (anadara).
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
The reason for Vasudeva’s conduct is as follows. Instead of atra the word hi is also seen. Sometimes this verse is placed before the previous verse. Vasudeva acts like a normal human being in his pastimes and thus shows familiarity and lack of respect. Rejecting Gaṅgā water one goes to the water of another holy place for purification.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
Affection reduces the respect. An example is given. When one is always close to another person out of affection it causes lack of respect. Or if one is constantly and completely attracted to someone, having great affection (sannikarṣaḥ) it causes lack of respect. A person living on the Gaṅgā gives up Gaṅgā water and goes to other water.