Sridhar swami's insights into SB 9.20.37-39 from Bhavartha-Dipika

[Guest guest]

> Interesting huh?

 

Yes, interesting story indeed. But what doesn't come out in the passage you

cited, and what doesn't come out in Srila Prabhupada's verse translation and

purport, either, is how exactly it happened that the child was called

"Bharadvaja". It is actually very simple, perhaps too simple:

 

In verse 37 it is said that the demigods gave the child a name. Now who were

these demigods, and when and how did they give the child a name?

 

These demigods were none other than Brhaspati and Mamata! How they named the

child, even though not really intending to do so, is explained in verse 38.

 

Brhaspati says to Mamata (the first line of the verse):

mudhe bhara dvajam imam! "Foolish one, you nourish (bhara) this illicit

child (dvajam)!"

 

Mamata says to Brhaspati (second line of the verse):

bhara dvajam brhaspate! "Brhaspati, you nourish this illicit child!"

 

This dialogue bewteen Mamata and Brhaspati can also be understood in this

way: "O silly lady, this one is Bharadvaja! He is Bharadvaja, o Brhaspati!"

In other words, the two parents agreed upon a name. That is why the verse

ends stating, "Thus the child was known as Bharadvaja".

 

The word "bhara", is the imperative of the verb root "bhri", which means "to

bear, to carry, or to nourish, to maintain.

 

Your servant

Ekanatha dasa