Re: [INDOLOGY] BhP 10.333.31 and the Bhāgavata Purāṇa's date

[Suresh Kolichala]

Dear Palaniappan,

You are right about īśvara being referred to in plural, but there is
already an example of such īśvaras in the same section of verses. See
10.33.30:




*naitat samācaret jātu manasāpi hi anīśvaraḥvinaśyaty ācaran mauḍhyād
yathārudro ’bdhi-jaṁ viṣam*

One who is not īśvara (anīśvaraḥ) should never imitate the behavior of
īśvaras, even mentally. If out of foolishness an ordinary person does
imitate such behavior, he will simply destroy himself, just as a person who
is not Rudra would destroy himself if he tried to drink an ocean of poison.

In the Telugu translation of Bhagavatam of Potana (late 1400s), there is a
mention of candra (moon) and vāsava (indra) as examples of īśvaras, in
addition to Rudra as mentioned above.

Here are corresponding verses from the Telugu version:

10.1-1106 (Translation of 10.33.29)
*sarvabhakṣuⁿ ḍagni sarvambu bhakṣiñcidōṣigāni pagidi dōṣa mainaⁿjēsi
dōṣapadamuⁿ jendaru tējasvulaguṭaⁿ jandra vāsavāduⁿ ladhipa!*

Meaning: As all-devouring fire remains unpolluted even after consuming
everything, the same the spirited-people (tējasvi+lu) such as *candra *(moon)
and *vāsava *(indra) remain untainted for their transgressions.

10.1-1107 (translation of: SB 10.33.30)
*īśvaruⁿḍu gānivāⁿḍu na-rēśvara! parakāntaⁿ dalaⁿci yeṭlu braduku?
gau-rīśvaruⁿḍu dakka nanyuⁿḍuviśvabhayadaviṣamu mriṅgi velayaṅgalaⁿḍē?*

Meaning: O King (narēśvara), how can anyone who is not īśvara survive
touching other men's wives? Only Gauri's īśvara (husband of Gauri) can
drink the dreadful poison and survive.

Clearly, the attempt in these verses is to justify Krishna's
transgressions. Whether Krishna is treated as an *īśvara *(Lord) or a
*param**ē**śvara *(Supreme Lord), these verses are all about how their
apparent sinful actions are unimpeachable.

Almost reminds us of Nixon's quote: "when the president does it, that means
it is not illegal." Did Nixon read BhP? :-)

I still believe your attempt to connect īśvaras in these verses with Āḷvārs is
far-fetched.

Regards,
Suresh.
Nixon's quote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiHN3IJ_j8A


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