Devanagari
ज्ञानं परं स्वात्मरह:प्रकाशं
प्रोवाच कस्मै भगवान् समग्रम् ।
अपि क्षमं नो ग्रहणाय भर्त-
र्वदाञ्जसा यद् वृजिनं तरेम ॥ १८ ॥
Verse text
jṣānaṁ paraṁ svātma-rahaḥ-prakāśaṁ
provāca kasmai bhagavān samagram
api kṣamaṁ no grahaṇāya bhartar
vadāṣjasā yad vṛjinaṁ tarema
Synonyms
jṣānam
—
knowledge
;
param
—
supreme
;
sva
—
ātma — own self
;
rahaḥ
—
mystery
;
prakāśam
—
enlightening
;
provāca
—
said
;
kasmai
—
unto Ka (Brahmājī)
;
bhagavān
—
the Personality of Godhead
;
samagram
—
in sum total
;
api
—
if so
;
kṣamam
—
able
;
naḥ
—
unto me
;
grahaṇāya
—
acceptable
;
bhartaḥ
—
O my Lord
;
vada
—
say
;
aṣjasā
—
in detail
;
yat
—
that which
;
vṛjinam
—
miseries
;
tarema
—
can cross over .
Translation
My Lord, kindly explain to us, if You think us competent to receive it, that transcendental knowledge which gives enlightenment about Yourself and which You explained before to Brahmājī.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
O Lord! You spoke this highest, complete knowledge which reveals what is difficult to understand about yourself to Brahmā. If I am qualified, please tell me now, for by that knowledge I will cross the ocean of sorrow arising from your disappearance.
Therefore I desire knowledge which will eradicate these doubts. This means knowledge which will solve these contradictions that I have just asked, which are unknown to all, and not just that knowledge which you promised to give me as mentioned in verse 13. You spoke that knowledge to Brahmā (kasmai). Or the meaning can be “You did not speak it to anyone.” In that case, O Lord (bhartar), if you are merciful to me, then speak it. If I am qualified to receive it (grahaṇāya kṣamam), speak it, or if I am qualified and it is possible to explain, then explain it. If not, then do not speak it. From this knowledge I will cross the ocean of sorrow (vṛjinam) arising from the destruction of the Yadus and your disappearance which are happening now, and about which I am asking.
Purport
A pure devotee like Uddhava has no material afflictions because he engages constantly in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. A devotee feels afflicted without the association of the Lord. Constant remembrance of the Lord’s activities keeps the devotee alive, and therefore Uddhava requested that the Lord please enlighten him with the knowledge of
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,
as previously instructed to Brahmājī.