Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 48
Bhṛgu Tests the Trimūrti; Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Visit Mahā-Viṣṇu and Recover the Brāhmaṇa’s Sons
तत्राश्वा: शैब्यसुग्रीवमेघपुष्पबलाहका: । तमसि भ्रष्टगतयो बभूवुर्भरतर्षभ ॥ ४८ ॥ तान् दृष्ट्वा भगवान् कृष्णो महायोगेश्वरेश्वर: । सहस्रादित्यसङ्काशं स्वचक्रं प्राहिणोत् पुर: ॥ ४९ ॥
tatrāśvāḥ śaibya-sugrīva- meghapuṣpa-balāhakāḥ tamasi bhraṣṭa-gatayo babhūvur bharatarṣabha
In that darkness the chariot’s horses — Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapuṣpa and Balāhaka — lost their way. Seeing them in this condition, O best of the Bhāratas, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the supreme master of all masters of yoga, sent His Sudarśana disc before the chariot. That disc shone like thousands of suns.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī gives the following insight into this verse. Lord Kṛṣṇa’s horses had descended from Vaikuṇṭha to participate in His earthly pastimes. Since the Lord Himself was pretending to be a finite human being, His steeds now acted confused to enhance the drama of the situation for all who would one day hear this pastime.
FAQs
This verse describes how even powerful horses lost their direction in deep darkness, highlighting how material conditions can bewilder the senses without higher guidance.
Śukadeva uses “O best of the Bharatas” to honor Parīkṣit’s noble lineage and attentiveness while narrating the unfolding events of Kṛṣṇa’s pastime.
When the mind feels “dark” or confused, seek steady guidance—scripture, sādhus, and bhakti practices—rather than trusting disoriented senses alone.