Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 27
Hari’s Special Mercy, Śiva’s Quick Boons, and the Deliverance from Vṛkāsura
तं तथाव्यसनं दृष्ट्वा भगवान् वृजिनार्दन: । दूरात् प्रत्युदियाद् भूत्वा बटुको योगमायया ॥ २७ ॥ मेखलाजिनदण्डाक्षैस्तेजसाग्निरिव ज्वलन् । अभिवादयामास च तं कुशपाणिर्विनीतवत् ॥ २८ ॥
taṁ tathā vyasanaṁ dṛṣṭvā bhagavān vṛjinārdanaḥ dūrāt pratyudiyād bhūtvā baṭuko yoga-māyayā
The Supreme Lord, who relieves His devotees’ distress, had seen from afar that Lord Śiva was in danger. Thus by His mystic Yoga-māyā potency He assumed the form of a brahmacārī student, with the appropriate belt, deerskin, rod and prayer beads, and came before Vṛkāsura. The Lord’s effulgence glowed brilliantly like fire. Holding kuśa grass in His hand, He humbly greeted the demon.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes the disguised Lord Nārāyaṇa as saying, “For Us seers of the Absolute Truth, all created beings are worthy of respect. And since you are the son of Śakuni, a wise man and performer of great austerities, you certainly deserve the respectful greeting of a young brahmacārī like Myself.”
FAQs
This verse shows that Kṛṣṇa can manifest any form by His Yogamāyā, approaching devotees in a way suited to the situation and to His līlā.
He adopted a baṭuka form to enter the scene unobtrusively and guide events according to His divine plan, while still rescuing the distressed person.
When facing adversity, cultivate steady devotion and remembrance—this verse reinforces that divine help can arrive unexpectedly, in forms we may not anticipate.