Devanagari
एतान्मे पृच्छत: प्रश्नान् हरे: कर्मविवित्सया ।
ब्रूहि मेऽज्ञस्य मित्रत्वादजया नष्टचक्षुष: ॥ ४० ॥
Verse text
etān me pṛcchataḥ praśnān
hareḥ karma-vivitsayā
brūhi me ’jṣasya mitratvād
ajayā naṣṭa-cakṣuṣaḥ
Synonyms
etān
—
all these
;
me
—
my
;
pṛcchataḥ
—
of one who inquires
;
praśnān
—
questions
;
hareḥ
—
of the Supreme Lord
;
karma
—
pastimes
;
vivitsayā
—
desiring to know
;
brūhi
—
kindly describe
;
me
—
unto me
;
ajṣasya
—
of one who is ignorant
;
mitratvāt
—
because of friendship
;
ajayā
—
by the external energy
;
naṣṭa
—
cakṣuṣaḥ — those who have lost their vision .
Translation
My dear sage, I have put all these questions before you with a view to knowing the pastimes of Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are the friend of all, so kindly describe them for all those who have lost their vision.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Since I am ignorant, having lost my sight because of māyā, I have asked these questions with a desire to know about the pastimes of the Lord. Please reply to these questions since you are a friend.
“Why have you asked so many questions?” Please answer these questions asked only with a desire to know about the pastimes of the Lord and service to him. When all these questions are answered, I will have complete concentration on the Lord’s service with indifference to all else. When I have my full attention on the Lord, then I can attain him. Brūhi me here indicates “Speak in order to deliver me.” In this way the repetition of the word me is not a fault. Addressing Maitreya as a friend (mitratvāt) means that though he is the son of Mitrā, he is also the friend of the whole universe.
Purport
Vidura put forward many varieties of questions with a view to understanding the principles of transcendental loving service to the Lord. As stated in
Bhagavad-gītā
(2.41)
, devotional service to the Lord is one, and the mind of the devotee is not diverted to the many branches of uncertainties. Vidura’s purpose was to be situated in that service to the Lord, wherein one merges undivertedly. He claimed the friendship of Maitreya Muni, not because he was Maitreya’s son but because Maitreya was actually the friend of all who have lost their spiritual vision due to material influence.