Shloka 39
Śakaṭa-bhañjana, Naming by Garga, Dāmodara and Yamala-arjuna, and the Move to Vṛndāvana
न रेजे ऽन्तरितश् चन्द्रो निर्मलो मलिनैर् घनैः सद्वाक्यवादो मूर्खाणां प्रगल्भाभिर् इवोक्तिभिः
na reje 'ntaritaś candro nirmalo malinair ghanaiḥ sadvākyavādo mūrkhāṇāṃ pragalbhābhir ivoktibhiḥ
The stainless moon does not shine when it is veiled by foul, dark clouds; so too, among fools, true and noble speech finds no radiance, as though smothered by their brazen utterances.
Sage Parāśara (to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: didactic-with-simile
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: To illuminate dharma and truth, though the unfit may obscure it by noisy arrogance—highlighting the need for adhikāra (fitness) in receiving wisdom.
Leela: Dharma-upadesa
Dharma Restored: Protection of satya and sādhu-vāk (truthful, noble speech) through discernment and right audience.
Concept: Truthful, refined teaching cannot shine where arrogance and ignorance loudly cover it, as clouds veil the moon.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Choose satsanga and cultivate listening (śravaṇa) discipline; avoid argumentative environments that reward volume over truth.
Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s truth is self-luminous, yet its reception depends on the jīva’s preparedness—an emphasis on adhikāra within a theistic Vedānta.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
It illustrates how intrinsic purity (like the moon’s light) can be temporarily hidden when surrounded by corrupting influences—here, the moral darkness of Kali-yuga.
He suggests that truthful, well-spoken instruction loses its effect among the foolish because their loud, shameless speech overwhelms and obscures what is virtuous.
Even as dharma becomes obscured in Kali-yuga, Vishnu remains the supreme ground of order and restoration; the verse underscores the need to seek the divine standard of truth beyond societal noise.