Shloka 20
Nanda Mahārāja Celebrates Kṛṣṇa’s Birth; Vasudeva Warns of Danger
वसुदेव उपश्रुत्य भ्रातरं नन्दमागतम् । ज्ञात्वा दत्तकरं राज्ञे ययौ तदवमोचनम् ॥ २० ॥
vasudeva upaśrutya bhrātaraṁ nandam āgatam jñātvā datta-karaṁ rājñe yayau tad-avamocanam
Als Vasudeva hörte, dass Nanda, sein lieber Freund und Bruder, nach Mathurā gekommen und die Abgabe an den König bereits entrichtet hatte, begab er sich zu Nandas Wohnstatt.
Vasudeva and Nanda Mahārāja were so intimately connected that they lived like brothers. Furthermore, it is learned from the notes of Śrīpāda Madhvācārya that Vasudeva and Nanda Mahārāja were stepbrothers. Vasudeva’s father, Śūrasena, married a vaiśya girl, and from her Nanda Mahārāja was born. Later, Nanda Mahārāja himself married a vaiśya girl, Yaśodā. Therefore his family is celebrated as a vaiśya family, and Kṛṣṇa, identifying Himself as their son, took charge of vaiśya activities ( kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyam ). Balarāma represents plowing the land for agriculture and therefore always carries in His hand a plow, whereas Kṛṣṇa tends cows and therefore carries a flute in His hand. Thus the two brothers represent kṛṣi-rakṣya and go-rakṣya.
FAQs
Because he heard Nanda had arrived and, knowing Nanda had already paid the king’s tax, Vasudeva went to ensure Nanda’s release from any further official trouble.
It highlights the atmosphere of state pressure and taxation, where even respectable leaders like Nanda could face entanglement, prompting Vasudeva to intervene.
Protect family and community members from unnecessary anxiety and bureaucracy, and act responsibly and promptly when you learn someone is in difficulty.