Shloka 40
Vasudeva and Devakī Glorify Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; The Recovery of Devakī’s Six Sons from Sutala
दर्शनं वां हि भूतानां दुष्प्रापं चाप्यदुर्लभम् । रजस्तम:स्वभावानां यन्न: प्राप्तौ यदृच्छया ॥ ४० ॥
darśanaṁ vāṁ hi bhūtānāṁ duṣprāpaṁ cāpy adurlabham rajas-tamaḥ-svabhāvānāṁ yan naḥ prāptau yadṛcchayā
O ihr Herren! Für die meisten Lebewesen ist es äußerst schwer und überaus selten, Euch zu schauen. Doch selbst wir, von Rajas und Tamas geprägt, können Euch leicht sehen, wenn Ihr Euch aus Eurem eigenen süßen Willen offenbart.
By ascribing to himself the degraded status of a demoniac birth, Bali Mahārāja denied any spiritual qualification for being visited by Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. What to speak of demons like himself, Bali thought, even advanced renunciants on the paths of jñāna and yoga fail to please the Lord when they do not give up their pride and envy.
FAQs
This verse says that for conditioned beings influenced by rajas and tamas, attaining the Lord’s personal audience is extremely rare—yet it becomes possible by divine providence and unexpected grace (yadṛcchayā).
When Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma came to meet the Vraja residents, the gopīs expressed astonishment and gratitude that, though such darśana is nearly impossible for materially conditioned souls, they had received it by rare good fortune.
By seeking saintly association, hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa, and living with humility—one becomes receptive to grace, and opportunities for genuine spiritual connection arise even amid worldly influences.