CC Madhya 5.77-78 (1975)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXTS 77-78
- tabe baḍa-vipra kahe, “ei satya kathā
- gopāla yadi sākṣī dena, āpane āsi’ ethā
- tabe kanyā diba āmi, jāniha niścaya”
- tāṅra putra kahe,—‘ei bhāla bāta haya’
SYNONYMS
tabe—at that time; baḍa-vipra—the elderly brāhmaṇa; kahe—says; ei satya kathā—this is true; gopāla—the Gopāla Deity; yadi—if; sākṣī—witness; dena—gives; āpane—personally; āsi’—coming; ethā—here; tabe—at that time; kanyā—daughter; diba—must give in charity; āmi—I; jāniha—you all know it; niścaya—certainly; tāṅra—his; putra—son; kahe—says; ei—this; bhāla—nice; bāta—statement; haya—is.
TRANSLATION
Taking this opportunity, the elderly brāhmaṇa immediately confirmed that this was really true. He said, “If Gopāla personally comes here to serve as a witness, I shall surely give my daughter to the young brāhmaṇa.” The elderly brāhmaṇa’s son immediately confirmed this, saying, “Yes, this is a very nice settlement.”
PURPORT
Below is the 1996 edition text, ready to be substituted with the 1975 one using the compile form.
As the Supersoul within the heart of all living entities, Kṛṣṇa knows everyone’s desire, everyone’s request and everyone’s prayer. Although all these may be contradictory, the Lord has to create a situation in which everyone will be pleased. This is an instance of a marriage negotiation between an elderly brāhmaṇa and a youthful one. The elderly brāhmaṇa was certainly willing to give his daughter in charity to the young brāhmaṇa, but his son and relatives became impediments to this transaction. The elderly brāhmaṇa considered how to get out of this situation and still offer his daughter to the young brāhmaṇa. His son, an atheist and a very cunning fellow, was thinking of how to stop the marriage. The father and son were thinking in a contradictory way, yet Kṛṣṇa created a situation wherein they agreed. They both agreed that if the Gopāla Deity would come and serve as a witness, the daughter would be given to the young brāhmaṇa.