| Canto 11: General History | Chapter 1: The Curse Upon the Yadu Dynasty |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.1.8
sri-rajovaca
nityam vriddhopasevinam
SYNONYMS
sri-raja uvaca -- the King said; brahmanyanam -- of them who were respectful to the brahmanas; vadanyanam -- charitable; nityam -- always; vriddha-upasevinam -- engaged in serving elders; vipra-sapah -- the brahmanas' curse; katham -- how; abhut -- did it come about; vrishninam -- of the Vrishnis; krishna-cetasam -- whose minds were totally absorbed in thought of Lord Krishna.
TRANSLATION
King Parikshit inquired: How could the brahmanas curse the Vrishnis, who were always respectful to the brahmanas, charitable, and inclined to serve senior and exalted personalities and whose minds were always fully absorbed in thought of Lord Krishna?
PURPORT
Brahmanas generally become angry at persons who disrespect the brahminical class, who are uncharitable and who decline to serve senior, respectable personalities. The Vrishnis, however, were not like that, and thus they are described here by King Parikshit as brahmanyanam, or sincere followers of brahminical culture. Further, even if the brahmanas became angry, why would they curse members of Krishna's own family? Since the brahmanas were well learned, they must have known that it is offensive to oppose personal associates of the Supreme Lord. The Yadu dynasty is specifically described here as vrishninam and krishna-cetasam. In other words, they were Lord Krishna's own men, and they were always absorbed in thinking of Krishna. Therefore, even if somehow or other the brahmanas had cursed them, how could that curse have had any effect?
These are the questions of Parikshit Maharaja.
Although the Vrishnis are described in this verse as krishna-cetasam, always absorbed in thinking of Krishna, it is clearly indicated that Krishna desired that the brahmanas become angry and curse the Yadu dynasty. The Supreme Lord desired to remove His personal dynasty from the earth, and therefore uncustomary offensive behavior was exhibited by the young boys of Krishna's own family.
It is to be understood from this incident that when a man displays envy and ridicule of devotees of Vishnu, his brahmanyata, or high spiritual qualifications, along with his reverence for Sri Krishna, are all destroyed. Contempt and ridicule directed toward respectable persons and true brahmanas vanquish all good qualities. If there is a break in etiquette toward His devotees, the Supreme Lord will become ill-disposed even to His own relatives and friends and thus arrange to destroy those who oppose His devotees. If foolish persons in the guise of members of Krishna's personal family express enmity toward Vaishnavas, such offenders cannot properly be called offspring of Lord Krishna's dynasty. That is the supreme equality of the Personality of Godhead.
Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari