SB 9.21.11

SB 9.21.11

Devanagari

तस्य तां करुणां वाचं निशम्य विपुलश्रमाम् । कृपया भृशसन्तप्त इदमाहामृतं वच: ॥ ११ ॥

Verse text

tasya tāṁ karuṇāṁ vācaṁ niśamya vipula-śramām kṛpayā bhṛśa-santapta idam āhāmṛtaṁ vacaḥ

Synonyms

tasya of him (the caṇḍāla ) ; tām those ; karuṇām pitiable ; vācam words ; niśamya hearing ; vipula very much ; śramām fatigued ; kṛpayā out of compassion ; bhṛśa santaptaḥ — very much aggrieved ; idam these ; āha spoke ; amṛtam very sweet ; vacaḥ words .

Translation

Aggrieved at hearing the pitiable words of the poor fatigued caṇḍāla, Mahārāja Rantideva spoke the following nectarean words.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Aggrieved at hearing the pitiable words of the caṇḍāla which indicated his fatigue, Mahārāja Rantideva spoke the following sweet words. There was enough water for only one person, not two. The King thought, “I should not take the water for myself.” A person would not die but rather attain perfection by his body which heard with faith the Kings’ sweet words with his ears. What would happen then if people not only heard the words, but followed them?

Purport

Mahārāja Rantideva’s words were like amṛta, or nectar, and therefore, aside from rendering bodily service to an aggrieved person, by his words alone the King could save the life of anyone who might hear him.