Devanagari
तुल्यश्रुततप:शीलास्तुल्यस्वीयारिमध्यमा: ।
अपि चक्रु: प्रवचनमेकं शुश्रूषवोऽपरे ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
tulya-śruta-tapaḥ-śīlās
tulya-svīyāri-madhyamāḥ
api cakruḥ pravacanam
ekaṁ śuśrūṣavo ’pare
Synonyms
tulya
—
equal
;
śruta
—
in hearing from the Vedas
;
tapaḥ
—
and performance of penances
;
śīlāḥ
—
whose character
;
tulya
—
equal
;
svīya
—
to friends
;
ari
—
enemies
;
madhyamāḥ
—
and neutral parties
;
api
—
although
;
cakruḥ
—
they made
;
pravacanam
—
the speaker
;
ekam
—
one of them
;
śuśrūṣavaḥ
—
eager listeners
;
apare
—
the others .
Translation
Although these sages were all equally qualified in terms of Vedic study and austerity, and although they all saw friends, enemies and neutral parties equally, they chose one of their number to be the speaker, and the rest became eager listeners.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Although these sages were all equally qualified in terms of Vedic study and austerity, and although they all saw friends, enemies and neutral parties equally, they chose one of their number to be the speaker, and the rest became eager listeners.
KB 10.87.11
These four brahmacārīs, the Kumāras, are recognized scholars in the Vedas and other śāstras. Their unlimited volumes of knowledge, backed by austerities and penances, are exhibited by their sublime, ideal character. They are very amiable and gentle in behavior, and for them there is no distinction between friends, well-wishers and enemies. Being transcendentally situated, such personalities as the Kumāras are above all material considerations and are always neutral in respect to material dualities. In the discussions held among the four brothers, one of them, namely Sanandana, was selected to speak, and the other brothers became the audience to hear him.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
"Since they were all filled with knowledge, who was the speak and who were the questioners?" Since there was no difference in their learning, austerity and character there were no groups of for, against and neutral. Although all were qualified to be the speaker, for pleasure, they made one of themselves the speaker.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Tapas means the ability to concentrate the mind. Pravacanam means “speaker” rather than “speaking.”
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
They were equal in study of the Vedas (śruta), in concentration of heart (tapas), in qualities like peacefulness (śila). Pravacanam means “speaker” rather than “speaking.” Sanandana was the one speaker and the listeners were Sanaka and others.