Shloka 53
Kṛṣṇa Leads Kālayavana to Mucukunda; The Yavana Is Burned; Mucukunda’s Prayers and Boon of Bhakti
भवापवर्गो भ्रमतो यदा भवे- ज्जनस्य तर्ह्यच्युत सत्समागम: । सत्सङ्गमो यर्हि तदैव सद्गतौ परावरेशे त्वयि जायते मति: ॥ ५३ ॥
bhavāpavargo bhramato yadā bhavej janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samāgamaḥ sat-saṅgamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau parāvareśe tvayi jāyate matiḥ
O Acyuta, wenn das materielle Umherirren der Seele zur Ruhe kommt, kann sie die Gemeinschaft Deiner Geweihten erlangen. Und durch diese heilige Gemeinschaft erwacht in ihr Bhakti zu Dir, dem Ziel der Frommen und dem Herrn über Ursache und Wirkung.
Ācāryas Jīva Gosvāmī and Viśvanātha Cakravartī agree on the following point: Although it is stated here that when material life ceases one attains the association of devotees, in fact it is the association of the Lord’s devotees that enables one to transcend material existence. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains this apparent inversion of sequence by quoting the Kāvya-prakāśa (10.153) as follows: kārya-kāraṇayoś ca paurvāparya-viparyayo vijñeyātiśayoktiḥ syāt sa. “A statement in which the logical order of a cause and its effect is reversed should be understood as atiśayokti, emphasis by extreme assertion.” Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī cites the following commentary on this statement: kāraṇasya śīghra-kārītāṁ vaktuṁ kāryasya pūrvam uktau. “To express the swift action of a cause, one may assert the result before the cause.”
FAQs
This verse teaches that liberation from material wandering begins when one gains association with saintly devotees, and from that satsanga arises steady, devotion-filled intelligence directed to Krishna, the supreme goal.
After being delivered and blessed by Krishna, Mucukunda offers prayers explaining that true spiritual progress comes by the Lord’s mercy—manifesting as contact with saints—through which devotion to Krishna awakens.
Seek regular association with sincere devotees—through kirtan, study, service, and guidance—because such company naturally reshapes one’s priorities and awakens steady faith and attraction toward Krishna.