Shloka 38
The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed (Brāhmaṇa-patnī-prasāda) — Ritualism Humbled by Bhakti
अथानुस्मृत्य विप्रास्ते अन्वतप्यन्कृतागस: । यद् विश्वेश्वरयोर्याच्ञामहन्म नृविडम्बयो: ॥ ३८ ॥
athānusmṛtya viprās te anvatapyan kṛtāgasaḥ yad viśveśvarayor yācñām ahanma nṛ-viḍambayoḥ
The brāhmaṇas then came to their senses and felt deep remorse for their offense. They thought, “We have sinned, for we denied the request of the two Lords of the universe, who appeared deceptively as ordinary human beings.”
Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma did not try to deceive the brāhmaṇas: They straightforwardly requested food from them. Rather, the brāhmaṇas deceived themselves, as indicated by the Sanskrit word nṛ-viḍambayoḥ, which means that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are bewildering for an ordinary human being who considers Them also to be human. Still, because the wives of the brāhmaṇas were great devotees of the Lord, the foolish brāhmaṇas received spiritual benefit and finally came to their senses.
FAQs
This verse shows that sincere remembrance of one’s mistake and heartfelt remorse (anvatapyan kṛtāgasaḥ) is the beginning of rectification after offense.
They realized the request had come from the two Lords of the universe—Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma—who were only playing the part of ordinary humans, and thus their refusal was a grave offense.
Do not judge spiritual truth by external appearances; cultivate humility and readiness to serve, because the divine may approach in simple, unexpected forms.