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Shloka 42

Vidura’s Questions: How the Unchangeable Lord Relates to Māyā; Bhakti as the Remedy; Blueprint for the Coming Cosmology

श्रीशुक उवाच स इत्थमापृष्टपुराणकल्प: कुरुप्रधानेन मुनिप्रधान: । प्रवृद्धहर्षो भगवत्कथायां सञ्चोदितस्तं प्रहसन्निवाह ॥ ४२ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca sa ittham āpṛṣṭa-purāṇa-kalpaḥ kuru-pradhānena muni-pradhānaḥ pravṛddha-harṣo bhagavat-kathāyāṁ sañcoditas taṁ prahasann ivāha

Sinabi ni Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī: Nang tanungin nang gayon ni Vidura, ang pinuno ng mga Kuru, ang pangunahing muni (Maitreya) ay nagsimulang magpaliwanag ayon sa anyong Purāṇa. Lalong sumidhi ang kanyang galak sa bhagavat-kathā; sa udyok ni Vidura, wari’y nakangiti siyang nagsalaysay ng mga transendental na lila ng Panginoon.

śrī-śukaḥŚrī Śuka
śrī-śukaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootśrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); proper name; karmadhāraya: ‘śrīmān śukaḥ’
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (वच् धातु)
FormPerfect/लिट्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun
itthamthus
ittham:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootittham (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)
āpṛṣṭa-purāṇa-kalpaḥ(he) who, being asked thus, was expert in the Purāṇas
āpṛṣṭa-purāṇa-kalpaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootā-pṛṣṭa (कृदन्त; √prach/पृच्छ्) + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular; past passive participle ‘āpṛṣṭa’ = ‘having been asked’; compound sense: ‘purāṇa-kalpaḥ’ = ‘expert in Purāṇas’; overall: ‘asked thus, (he who is) competent in Purāṇas’
kuru-pradhānenaby the foremost Kuru
kuru-pradhānena:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootkuru (प्रातिपदिक) + pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘by the chief among the Kurus’
muni-pradhānaḥthe foremost of sages
muni-pradhānaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmuni (प्रातिपदिक) + pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to ‘saḥ’
pravṛddha-harṣaḥwith heightened joy
pravṛddha-harṣaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootpra-vṛddha (कृदन्त; √vṛdh/वृध्) + harṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘with greatly increased joy’
bhagavat-kathāyāmin the Lord’s discourse
bhagavat-kathāyām:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootbhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in the narration of the Lord’
sañcoditaḥbeing prompted
sañcoditaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootsam-codita (कृदन्त; √cud/चुद्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular; past passive participle = ‘urged/impelled’
tamhim
tam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun
prahasansmiling
prahasan:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootpra-hasan (कृदन्त; √has/हस्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular; present active participle = ‘smiling/laughing’ (agreeing with subject ‘saḥ’)
ivaas if
iva:
Upamā (उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (अव्यय)
FormParticle of comparison (उपमावाचक अव्यय)
āhaspoke
āha:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootah (अह्/ब्रू धात्वर्थे; √ah)
FormPerfect/लिट् (or narrative past), 3rd person, Singular; Parasmaipada

Great learned sages like Maitreya Muni are always very enthusiastic about describing the transcendental activities of the Lord. Maitreya Muni, being thus invited by Vidura to speak, appeared to be smiling because he actually felt transcendental bliss.

Ś
Śukadeva Gosvāmī
V
Vidura
M
Maitreya

FAQs

This verse shows that a realized sage becomes increasingly joyful when speaking about the Supreme Lord, indicating that Bhagavat-katha is intrinsically blissful and spiritually nourishing.

Vidura, the foremost among the Kurus, respectfully inquired about divine topics; encouraged by such sincere questioning, Maitreya gladly commenced the narration, smiling in affection and spiritual delight.

Seek authentic teachers, ask sincere questions about God, and regularly hear and discuss Bhagavatam; such satsanga naturally increases enthusiasm, clarity, and devotion.