Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.8.10

śrī-nanda uvāca

alakṣito 'smin rahasi

māmakair api go-vraje

kuru dvijāti-saḿskāraḿ

svasti-vācana-pūrvakam

SYNONYMS

śrī-nandaḥ uvāca — Nanda Mahārāja said (to Gargamuni); alakṣitaḥ — without Kaḿsa's knowledge; asmin — in this cow shed; rahasi — in a very solitary place; māmakaiḥ — even by my relatives; api — a still more secluded place; go-vraje — in the cow shed; kuru — just execute; dvijāti-saḿskāram — the purificatory process of second birth (saḿskārād bhaved dvijaḥ); svasti-vācana-pūrvakam — by chanting the Vedic hymns to perform the purificatory process.

TRANSLATION

Nanda Mahārāja said: My dear great sage, if you think that your performing this process of purification will make Kaḿsa suspicious, then secretly chant the Vedic hymns and perform the purifying process of second birth here in the cow shed of my house, without the knowledge of anyone else, even my relatives, for this process of purification is essential.

PURPORT

Nanda Mahārāja did not like the idea of avoiding the purificatory process. Despite the many obstacles, he wanted to take advantage of Gargamuni's presence and do what was needed. The purificatory process is essential specifically for brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas. Therefore, since Nanda Mahārāja presented himself as a vaiśya, this process of purification was essential. Formerly, such institutional activities were compulsory. Cātur-varṇyaḿ mayā sṛṣṭaḿ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ (Bg. 4.13). Without these activities of purification, the society would be considered a society of animals. To take advantage of Gargamuni's presence, Nanda Mahārāja wanted to perform the nāma-karaṇa ceremonies, even secretly, without any gorgeous arrangements. Therefore, the opportunity for purification should be regarded as the essential duty of human society. In Kali-yuga, however, people have forgotten the essence. Mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyā hy upadrutāḥ (Bhāg. 1.1.10). In this age, people are all bad and unfortunate, and they do not accept Vedic instructions to make their life successful. Nanda Mahārāja, however, did not want to neglect anything. To keep intact a happy society advanced in spiritual knowledge, he took full advantage of Gargamuni's presence to do what was necessary. How degraded society has become within five thousand years. Mandāḥ sumanda-matayo manda-bhāgyāḥ. The human life is obtained after many, many millions of births, and it is intended for purification. Previously, a father was eager to give all kinds of help to elevate his children, but at present, because of being misguided, people are prepared even to kill to avoid the responsibility of raising children.

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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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