Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 2 Verse 19

Canto 10: The Summum Bonum | Chapter 2: Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Womb

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.2.19

sā devakī sarva-jagan-nivāsa-

nivāsa-bhūtā nitarāḿ na reje

bhojendra-gehe 'gni-śikheva ruddhā

sarasvatī jñāna-khale yathā satī

SYNONYMS

sā devakī — that Devakīdevī; sarva-jagat-nivāsa — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sustainer of all the universes (mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni); nivāsa-bhūtā — the womb of Devakī has now become the residence; nitarām — extensively; na — not; reje — became illuminated; bhojendra-gehe — within the limits of the house of Kaḿsa; agni-śikhā iva — like the flames of a fire; ruddhā — covered; sarasvatī — knowledge; jñāna-khale — in a person known as jñāna-khala, one who possesses knowledge but cannot distribute it; yathā — or just as; satī — so being.

TRANSLATION

Devakī then kept within herself the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes, the foundation of the entire cosmos, but because she was under arrest in the house of Kaḿsa, she was like the flames of a fire covered by the walls of a pot, or like a person who has knowledge but cannot distribute it to the world for the benefit of human society.

PURPORT

In this verse the word jñāna-khala is most significant. Knowledge is meant for distribution. Although there is already much scientific knowledge, whenever scientists or philosophers awaken to a particular type of knowledge, they try to distribute it throughout the world, for otherwise the knowledge gradually dries up and no one benefits from it. India has the knowledge of Bhagavad-gītā, but unfortunately, for some reason or other, this sublime knowledge of the science of God was not distributed throughout the world, although it is meant for all of human society. Therefore Kṛṣṇa Himself appeared as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and ordered all Indians to take up the cause of distributing the knowledge of Bhagavad-gītā throughout the entire world.

yāre dekha, tāre kaha 'kṛṣṇa'-upadeśa

āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra' ei deśa

"Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa as they are given in Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land." (Cc. Madhya 7.128) Although India has the sublime knowledge of Bhagavad-gītā, Indians have not done their proper duty of distributing it. Now, therefore, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement has been set up to distribute this knowledge as it is, without distortion. Although previously there were attempts to distribute the knowledge of Bhagavad-gītā, these attempts involved distortion and compromise with mundane knowledge. But now the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, without mundane compromises, is distributing Bhagavad-gītā as it is, and people are deriving the benefits of awakening to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and becoming devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore the proper distribution of knowledge has begun by which not only will the whole world benefit, but India's glory will be magnified in human society. Kaḿsa tried to arrest Kṛṣṇa consciousness within his house (bhojendra-gehe), with the result that Kaḿsa, with all his opulences, was later vanquished. Similarly, the real knowledge of Bhagavad-gītā was being choked by unscrupulous Indian leaders, with the result that India's culture, and knowledge of the Supreme were being lost. Now, however, because Kṛṣṇa consciousness is spreading, the proper use of Bhagavad-gītā is being attempted.

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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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