SAUNDARANANDA 5.5: Different Strokes for Different Folks

svam c' aavasaNgaM pathi nirmumukShur
bhaktiM janasy' aanya-matesh ca rakShan
nandaM ca geh'-aabhimukhaM jighRkShan
maargaM tato 'nyam sugataH prapede

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5.5
Wishing to give free rein to his own following,
who were on the road,

While tending the devotion of people
who were differently minded,

And wishing to nab hold of Nanda,
who was turning for home,

The One Gone Well then took a different path.


COMMENT:
EHJ notes that the text is clumsy and perhaps corrupt, with lines 1 and 3 ending with desiderative participles (nirmumukShuH, jighRkShan) but line 2 ending in a plain participle (rakshan).

So there might be a danger in looking too deeply into the meaning of this verse, on the basis of evidence that might not be totall reliable.

Still, a contrast would seem to be intended between nirmumukShuH, desiring that those already established on the road should be free to go their own way, and jighRkShan, desiring that one not yet so established, Nanda, should be taken in hand.


EH Johnston:
Then as the Blessed One desired to be free of His own following on the road, while retaining the devotion of those who followed other creeds, and wished to lay hold of Nanda who was turning homewards, He took another road.

Linda Covill:
Wishing to dismiss his own disciples whilst fostering the devotion of people of other persuasions, and intending also to catch hold of Nanda who was already turning towards home, the Sugata set out along a different route;


VOCABULARY:
svam (acc. sg. m.): his own
ca: and
avasaNgam (acc. sg.)
ava- √ saNj: to suspend , attach to , append ; to adhere or cleave to , not leave undisturbed
ava: ind. (as a prefix to verbs and verbal nouns expresses) off , away , down
√ saNj: to cling or stick or adhere to
saNga: m. sticking , clinging to ; addiction or devotion to , propensity for , (esp.) worldly or selfish attachment or affection , desire , wish , cupidity
pathi (loc. sg.): on the road
nirmumukShuH (nom. sg. m.): mfn. (fr. desid. nir- √ muc) longing for liberation
nir- √ muc: to loosen , free from (abl.) , liberate

bhaktim (acc. sg.): f. devotion
janasya (gen. sg.): m. person, people
anya-mateH (gen. sg. m.): otherwise minded
anya: other, different
mati: f. devotion ; thought , design , intention , resolution , determination , inclination , wish , desire ; opinion , notion , idea , belief , conviction , view , creed
ca: and
rakShan = nom. sg. m. pres. part. rakSh: to guard , watch , take care of , protect , save , preserve ; to tend (cattle); to spare , have regard to (another's feelings)

nandam (acc. sg. m.): Nanda
ca: and
geh'-aabhimukham (acc. sg. m.): turning towards home
geha: n. (corrupted fr. gRih/a) , a house , dwelling , habitation ; (also) family life
abhimukha: mfn. with the face directed towards , turned towards , facing ; (ifc.) going near , approaching
jighRkShan = nom. sg. m. desiderative. pres. part grah: to grasp , lay hold of; to lay the hand on , claim

maargam (acc. sg.): m. any track , road , path , way
tataH: ind. thence, then
anyam (acc. sg. m.): mfn. another, different
sugataH (nom. sg. m.): the Sugata, the One Gone Well
prapede = 3rd pers. sg. perfect pra- √ pad: to go forwards set out for , resort to , arrive at , attain , enter (with acc.)