Devanagari
धिग् जन्म नस्त्रिवृद् यत् तद् धिग्व्रतं धिग्बहुज्ञताम् ।
धिक्कुलं धिक् क्रियादाक्ष्यं विमुखा ये त्वधोक्षजे ॥ ४० ॥
Verse text
dhig janma nas tri-vṛd yat tad
dhig vrataṁ dhig bahu-jṣatām
dhik kulaṁ dhik kriyā-dākṣyaṁ
vimukhā ye tv adhokṣaje
Synonyms
dhik
—
to hell
;
janma
—
with the birth
;
naḥ
—
our
;
tri
—
vṛt — threefold (the first from the physical parents, the second at the time of brahminical initiation, and the third at the time of initiation into the performances of Vedic sacrifice)
;
yat tat
—
whatever
;
dhik
—
to hell
;
vratam
—
with our vow (of celibacy)
;
dhik
—
to hell
;
bahu
—
jṣatām — with our extensive knowledge
;
dhik
—
to hell
;
kulam
—
with our aristocratic lineage
;
dhik
—
to hell
;
kriyā
—
dākṣyam — with our expertise in ritualistic activities
;
vimukhaḥ
—
inimical
;
ye
—
who
;
tu
—
however
;
adhokṣaje
—
to the transcendental Personality of Godhead .
Translation
[The brāhmaṇas said:] To hell with our threefold birth, our vow of celibacy and our extensive learning! To hell with our aristocratic background and our expertise in the rituals of sacrifice! These are all condemned because we were inimical to the transcendental Personality of Godhead.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
[The brāhmaṇas said:] To hell with our threefold birth, our vow of celibacy and our extensive learning! To hell with our aristocratic background and our expertise in the rituals of sacrifice! These are all condemned because we were inimical to the transcendental Personality of Godhead.
KB 10.23.40
They began to talk among themselves: “To hell with our being born brāhmaṇas! To hell with our learning all the Vedic literatures! To hell with our performing great sacrifices and observing all the rules and regulations! To hell with our family! To hell with our expert service in performing the rituals exactly according to the description of the scriptures! To hell with it all, for we have not developed transcendental loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond the speculation of the mind, body and senses.”
The learned brāhmaṇas, expert in Vedic ritualistic performances, were properly regretful, because if one does not develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness, all discharge of religious duties is simply a waste of time and energy.
Purport
As explained in the definitions above, the words
tri-vṛḍ janma,
or “threefold birth,” refer to 1) physical birth, 2) brahminical initiation and 3) initiation into the performance of Vedic sacrifice. Everything is useless if one is ignorant of the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
If the yogis who practice astanga yoga also become bewildered, what can be said of us, involved in so much karma? Although we give instructions to others (guravah), we have been bewildered by maya concerning the real goal of our lives.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
They were inimical to the Lord who appears repeatedly (adhokṣaje) even as Paramātmā. They condemned their births as brāhmaṇas. Brāhmaṇas are suitable to be devotees according to the Gītā:
kiṁ punar brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣayas tathā |
anityam asukhaṁ lokam imaṁ prāpya bhajasva mām ||
What then to speak of devotees who are pure brāhmaṇas or kings? Therefore, having come into this impermanent world of little happiness, worship me (and quickly attain me.) BG 9.33
They condemned themselves since, though they were brāhmaṇas, they did not become devotees. Since gāyatrī indicates the Lord, by offending Kṛṣṇa they offended gāyatrī. Evidence that gāyatrī indicates the Lord is found in gāyatrī imbedded in first verse of Bhāgavatam which spreads the Lord’s glories. That gāyatrī indicates the Supreme Lord is explained in Agni Purāṇa (53.20).
yatrādhikṛtya gāyatrīṁ varṇyate dharma-vistaraḥ |
vṛtrāsura-vadhopetaṁ tad bhāgavatam iṣyate ||
Brahmā spoke the Bhāgavatam in which the killing of Vṛtrāsura is described and in which, after starting with gāyatrī, dharma is elaborately described.
They condemn their third birth since after that they worshipped other deities. They did not understand the truth:
ahaṁ hi sarva-yajñānāṁ bhoktā ca prabhur eva ca |
na tu mām abhijānanti tattvenātaś cyavanti te ||
I am the enjoyer and master of all sacrifices. Those who do not know me as such continue to take birth. BG 9.24
Similarly vows, knowledge, family lineage and expertise in rituals were devoid of devotion to the Lord and thus condemned.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
They condemned their accomplishments in order of increasing excellence. Birth is purity of birth by pure parents. The second birth is upanāyanam with the gāyatrī mantra. The third birth is dīkṣa: dīkṣā for performing sacrifices. Adhokṣaja indicates he who gives bliss to Yaśodā. The derivation was previously explained.