Shloka 8
Kṛṣṇa’s Arrival at Dvārakā
Dvārakā-praveśa and Bhakta-vātsalya
अहो सनाथा भवता स्म यद्वयं त्रैविष्टपानामपि दूरदर्शनम् । प्रेमस्मितस्निग्धनिरीक्षणाननं पश्येम रूपं तव सर्वसौभगम् ॥ ८ ॥
aho sanāthā bhavatā sma yad vayaṁ traiviṣṭapānām api dūra-darśanam prema-smita-snigdha-nirīkṣaṇānanaṁ paśyema rūpaṁ tava sarva-saubhagam
O welch Glück! Heute sind wir durch Deine Gegenwart wieder unter Deinem Schutz, denn selbst die Bewohner des Himmels erlangen Dein Darśana nur selten. Nun dürfen wir Dein lächelndes Antlitz schauen, erfüllt von liebevollen Blicken, und Deine transzendente Gestalt sehen, reich an allem Heil und Glück.
The Lord in His eternal personal form can be seen only by the pure devotees. The Lord is never impersonal, but He is the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead, possible to be visited by devotional service face to face, which is impossible to be done even by the denizens of higher planets. When Brahmājī and other demigods want to consult Lord Viṣṇu, the plenary portion of Lord Kṛṣṇa, they have to wait on the shore of the Ocean of Milk where Lord Viṣṇu is lying on White Land (Śvetadvīpa). This Ocean of Milk and the Śvetadvīpa planet are the replica of Vaikuṇṭhaloka within the universe. Neither Brahmājī nor the demigods like Indra can enter into this island of Śvetadvīpa, but they can stand on the shore of the Ocean of Milk and transmit their message to Lord Viṣṇu, known as Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. Therefore, the Lord is rarely seen by them, but the inhabitants of Dvārakā, because of their being pure devotees without any tinge of the material contamination of fruitive activities and empiric philosophical speculation, can see Him face to face by the grace of the Lord. This is the original state of the living entities and can be attained by reviving our natural and constitutional state of life, which is discovered by devotional service only.
FAQs
This verse says Krishna’s form—especially His loving smile and gentle glance—is rare even for the devas, yet becomes accessible to His devotees by His grace.
Because Krishna’s presence in Dvaraka made them feel sheltered and blessed, and it granted them the priceless opportunity to behold His supremely auspicious, intimate personal form.
Cultivate devotion that seeks Krishna’s presence—through sincere prayer, remembrance, and worship—valuing His protective grace and the inner “darshan” of His kindness over worldly security.