Shloka 50
Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys
Brahma-vimohana-līlā
चन्द्रिकाविशदस्मेरै: सारुणापाङ्गवीक्षितै: । स्वकार्थानामिव रज:सत्त्वाभ्यां स्रष्टृपालका: ॥ ५० ॥
candrikā-viśada-smeraiḥ sāruṇāpāṅga-vīkṣitaiḥ svakārthānām iva rajaḥ- sattvābhyāṁ sraṣṭṛ-pālakāḥ
With pure smiles like the moonlight growing ever brighter, and with sidelong glances from Their reddish eyes, those Viṣṇu forms created and protected the desires of Their own devotees, as if through the modes of passion and goodness.
Those Viṣṇu forms blessed the devotees with Their clear glances and smiles, which resembled the increasingly full light of the moon ( śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇam ). As maintainers, They glanced upon Their devotees, embracing them and protecting them by smiling. Their smiles resembled the mode of goodness, protecting all the desires of the devotees, and the glancing of Their eyes resembled the mode of passion. Actually, in this verse the word rajaḥ means not “passion” but “affection.” In the material world, rajo-guṇa is passion, but in the spiritual world it is affection. In the material world, affection is contaminated by rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa, but in the śuddha-sattva the affection that maintains the devotees is transcendental.
FAQs
This verse describes Kṛṣṇa’s moonlike, compassionate smiling glance, implying that even the cosmic controllers feel their purposes are fulfilled by His favor and presence.
The verse points to the cosmic administrators—like Brahmā, associated with creation and rajas—who operate through the guṇas; yet, before Kṛṣṇa, they appear subordinate, as if their powers and aims are completed through Him.
Recognize that even refined goodness and productive passion are still material modes; the Bhagavatam’s takeaway is to align one’s work and virtue with devotion to Kṛṣṇa, making the guṇas serve a higher spiritual purpose.