Shloka 31
Rāsa-līlā Begins; Divine Multiplication; Moral Doubt and Its Resolution
ईश्वराणां वच: सत्यं तथैवाचरितं क्वचित् । तेषां यत् स्ववचोयुक्तं बुद्धिमांस्तत् समाचरेत् ॥ ३१ ॥
īśvarāṇāṁ vacaḥ satyaṁ tathaivācaritaṁ kvacit teṣāṁ yat sva-vaco-yuktaṁ buddhimāṁs tat samācaret
ఈశ్వరశక్తితో యుక్తులైన మహాపురుషుల వచనం ఎల్లప్పుడూ సత్యమే; వారి ఆచరణ కూడా ఆ వచనానికి అనుగుణంగా ఉన్నప్పుడు ఆదర్శమవుతుంది. కాబట్టి బుద్ధిమంతుడు వారి ఉపదేశాన్ని ఆచరించాలి.
The word īśvara is usually defined in Sanskrit dictionaries as “lord, master, ruler,” and also as “capable, potent to perform.” Śrīla Prabhupāda often translated the word īśvara as “controller,” which brilliantly synthesizes the two fundamental concepts of īśvara, namely a master or ruler and a capable or potent person. A master may be incompetent, but a controller is a master or lord who in fact makes things happen. The parameśvara, the supreme īśvara, the supreme controller, is of course God, Kṛṣṇa, the cause of all causes.
FAQs
This verse says that while the words of īśvaras are always truthful, their actions may sometimes appear exceptional; therefore one should follow only those actions that align with their explicit teachings.
He gives a principle for readers to understand Kṛṣṇa’s extraordinary līlā without imitating it: devotees should take guidance from the Lord’s instructions and the dharmic example that matches those instructions.
Respect saints and scriptures, but don’t copy exceptional acts; instead, follow clear, consistent teachings—truthfulness, self-control, devotion, and compassion—when making moral decisions.