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Shloka 21

The Vraja Elders Question Kṛṣṇa’s Identity; Nanda Recounts Garga’s Prophecy

य एतस्मिन् महाभागे प्रीतिं कुर्वन्ति मानवा: । नारयोऽभिभवन्त्येतान् विष्णुपक्षानिवासुरा: ॥ २१ ॥

ya etasmin mahā-bhāge prītiṁ kurvanti mānavāḥ nārayo ’bhibhavanty etān viṣṇu-pakṣān ivāsurāḥ

Wer Liebe zu diesem hochbegnadeten, allverheißenden Śrī Kṛṣṇa hegt, kann von Feinden nicht bezwungen werden; wie die Asuras die Devas nicht schädigen können, die Viṣṇu auf ihrer Seite haben, so sind auch die an Kṛṣṇa Gebundenen unbesiegbar.

yethose who
ye:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)
etasminin this (person)
etasmin:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन
mahā-bhāgein the greatly fortunate one
mahā-bhāge:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootmahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘greatly fortunate’
prītimaffection, love
prītim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootprīti (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
kurvantishow / have
kurvanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘they do/produce’
mānavāḥpeople
mānavāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmānava (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
nanot
na:
— (negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय (negation)
arayaḥenemies
arayaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootari (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘enemies’
abhibhavantioverpower
abhibhavanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootabhi√bhū (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘overpower’
etānthem
etān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootetad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
viṣṇu-pakṣānthe supporters of Viṣṇu
viṣṇu-pakṣān:
Karma (कर्म) (object of comparison)
TypeNoun
Rootviṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘those on Viṣṇu’s side’
ivalike
iva:
— (comparison marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (अव्यय)
Formउपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)
asurāḥdemons
asurāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता) (of implied ‘overpower’)
TypeNoun
Rootasura (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Śrīla Prabhupāda has especially indicated in this connection that just as Lord Kṛṣṇa’s associates could not be defeated by Kaṁsa, so His modern-day devotees will not be defeated by their demoniac opponents, nor will the Lord’s devotees be defeated by the internal enemies — the lusty, materialistic senses.

V
Viṣṇu
A
Asurāḥ

FAQs

This verse teaches that those who cultivate loving devotion to the Lord are not overcome by calamity—devotees aligned with Viṣṇu cannot be defeated by demonic forces.

In the Govardhana narrative, the Lord’s shelter proves decisive; Śukadeva generalizes the principle that taking the Lord’s side (devotional allegiance) brings invincibility against hostile influences.

Strengthen daily devotion—hearing, chanting, prayer, and ethical living—so challenges don’t destabilize you; the verse emphasizes inner security that comes from loyalty to the Divine.