Verse 10.35

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 10.35:

बृहत्-साम तथा साम्नां गायत्री छन्दसाम् अहम् ।
मासानां मार्ग-शीर्षोऽहम् ऋतूनां कुसुमाकरः ॥ ३५ ॥

bṛhat-sāma tathā sāmnāṃ gāyatrī chandasām aham |
māsānāṃ mārga-śīrṣo'ham ṛtūnāṃ kusumākaraḥ || 35 ||

bṛhat-sāma–the prayers to Indra in the Bṛhat-sāma; tathā–and; sāmnām–of the hymns of the Sāma Veda; gāyatrī–gāyatrī; chandasām–of Sanskrit metres; aham–I; māsānām–of months; mārga-śīrṣaḥ–November–December (agrāhāyaṇa); aham–I; ṛtūnām–of seasons; kusumākaraḥ–flower-bearing spring.

Among the hymns of the Sāma Veda I am Bṛhat-sāma, the prayer to Indra. Of metres I am gāyatrī, of months I am Mārga-śīrṣa, and of seasons I am the flower-bearing spring.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

Śrī Bhagavān earlier said that of the Vedas, He is the Sāma Veda. Now He also says that within the Sāma Veda He is Bṛhat-sāma. The Ṛg-mantra, which is sung as tvām ṛddhim havāmahe, indicates the Bṛhat-sāma. Among metres He is the metre called gāyatrī. Among seasons He is kusuma-ākaraḥ, the flower-bearing spring season, Vasanta.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

Bhagavān is non-different from His name, qualities, pastimes, narrations and the prayers (stava and stuti) to Him. The Sāma Veda contains prayers that are the very embodiment of the Lord. It is therefore accepted as the best of the Vedas and is known as His vibhūti, or opulence. Gāyatrī illuminates the svarūpa of Kṛṣṇa and is therefore called the mother of the Vedas. Bhagavān has thus counted gāyatrī amongst His opulences. Of the twelve months, He says that the month of November–December (Mārga-śīrṣa) is His opulence. That month is neither too hot nor too cold, and various Vedic activities are performed at that time. Just before it begins, Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā is performed, which is the topmost of all His pastimes. In this month nature flourishes in full bloom and in the householders’ fields new crops are planted. Agrāhāyaṇa means ‘the beginning of the year’ and, therefore, Bhagavān says that it is His opulence. Of seasons spring is best. It is also known by the name ṛtu-rāja, the king of seasons. In this season, nature gives up her old ornaments and becomes adorned with fresh decorative coverings. Both inert and conscious beings are infused with new life. In this season Kṛṣṇa’s swing pastime and other spring-time pastimes are performed. This season is especially supreme because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared at this time, having accepted the emotions and complexion of Śrīmatī Rādhikā, the personification of mahābhāva. Thus Bhagavān has counted the spring season among His vibhūtis.