Shloka 34
तद् भूरिभाग्यमिह जन्म किमप्यटव्यां यद् गोकुलेऽपि कतमाङ्घ्रिरजोऽभिषेकम् । यज्जीवितं तु निखिलं भगवान् मुकुन्द- स्त्वद्यापि यत्पदरज: श्रुतिमृग्यमेव ॥ ३४ ॥
tad bhūri-bhāgyam iha janma kim apy aṭavyāṁ yad gokule ’pi katamāṅghri-rajo-’bhiṣekam yaj-jīvitaṁ tu nikhilaṁ bhagavān mukundas tv adyāpi yat-pada-rajaḥ śruti-mṛgyam eva
My greatest fortune would be to take birth in any form within this forest of Gokula, so that the dust from the lotus feet of any of its residents may bathe my head like a sacred anointing. For their whole life and soul is Bhagavān Mukunda, whose foot-dust is still sought even today in the mantras of the Śruti (the Vedas).
This verse indicates that Lord Brahmā desires to take birth even as the smallest blade of grass in Vṛndāvana so that the holy residents of the Lord’s abode may walk upon his head and bless him with the dust of their feet. Being realistic, Lord Brahmā does not aspire to directly achieve the dust of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feet; rather, he aspires for the mercy of the Lord’s devotees. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that Brahmā is willing to take birth even as a stone in a paved footpath in the Lord’s abode. Since Brahmā is the creator of the entire universe, we can just imagine the glorious position of the residents of Vṛndāvana.
FAQs
This verse declares that even an ordinary birth in the Vraja forest is supremely fortunate, because it can grant contact with the dust of devotees’ feet and devotion centered entirely on Mukunda (Kṛṣṇa).
Brahmā admits that scriptural knowledge alone struggles to grasp Kṛṣṇa’s intimate sweetness, whereas pure devotion—symbolized by the dust of His lotus feet and His devotees’ feet—grants direct spiritual access.
Cultivate humility and seek the association of genuine devotees; make your life centered on serving Mukunda, valuing devotion and saintly company over mere intellectual achievement.