SB 7.13.10 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

अव्यक्तलिङ्गो व्यक्तार्थो मनीष्युन्मत्तबालवत् । कविर्मूकवदात्मानं स द‍ृष्टय‍ा दर्शयेन्नृणाम् ॥ १० ॥

Verse text

avyakta-liṅgo vyaktārtho manīṣy unmatta-bālavat kavir mūkavad ātmānaṁ sa dṛṣṭyā darśayen nṛṇām

Synonyms

avyakta — liṅgaḥ — whose symptoms of sannyāsa are unmanifested ; vyakta — arthaḥ — whose purpose is manifested ; manīṣī — such a great saintly person ; unmatta — restless ; bāla — vat — like a boy ; kaviḥ — a great poet or orator ; mūka — vat — like a dumb man ; ātmānam — himself ; saḥ — he ; dṛṣṭyā — by example ; darśayet — should present ; nṛṇām — to human society .

Translation

Although a saintly person may not expose himself to the vision of human society, by his behavior his purpose is disclosed. To human society he should present himself like a restless child, and although he is the greatest thoughtful orator, he should present himself like a dumb man.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Although a saintly person may not expose himself to the vision of human society, his purpose is clear. Though he is wise, he should externally present himself like a retarded child to human society, and though, eloquent, he should present himself like a dumb man. He becomes like this in order to avoid falling from his concentration. He does not have the external characteristics of the sannyāsī, but he is fixed in his purpose of seeking ātmā.

Purport

A great personality very much advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness may not expose himself by the signs of a sannyāsī. To cover himself, he may live like a restless child or a dumb person, although he is the greatest orator or poet.