| Canto 10: The Summum Bonum | Chapter 84: The Sages' Teachings at Kurukshetra |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.84.15
īśvarasyeśitavyatām
SYNONYMS
ciram — for some time; vimriśya — thinking; munayah — the sages; īśvarasya — of the supreme controller; īśitavyatām — the status of being controlled; jana-sańgrahah — the enlightenment of the people in general; iti — thus (concluding); ūcuh — they said; smayantah — smiling; tam — to Him; jagat — of the universe; gurum — the spiritual master.
TRANSLATION
For some time the sages pondered the Supreme Lord's behavior, which resembled that of a subordinate living being. They concluded that He was acting this way to instruct the people in general. Thus they smiled and spoke to Him, the spiritual master of the universe.
PURPORT
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains the word īśitavyatā as referring to one's not being a controller, or in other words, to being under the law of karma, obliged to work and experience the results of one's work. While addressing the sages, Lord Krishna accepted the role of a subordinate living being to emphasize the importance of hearing and serving saintly Vaishnavas. The Personality of Godhead is also the supreme teacher of spiritual surrender.
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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
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