Shloka 40
The Lord’s Advent: Yoga-māyā’s Mission, Saṅkarṣaṇa’s Transfer, and the Demigods’ Prayers
मत्स्याश्वकच्छपनृसिंहवराहहंस- राजन्यविप्रविबुधेषु कृतावतार: । त्वं पासि नस्त्रिभुवनं च यथाधुनेश भारं भुवो हर यदूत्तम वन्दनं ते ॥ ४० ॥
matsyāśva-kacchapa-nṛsiṁha-varāha-haṁsa- rājanya-vipra-vibudheṣu kṛtāvatāraḥ tvaṁ pāsi nas tri-bhuvanaṁ ca yathādhuneśa bhāraṁ bhuvo hara yadūttama vandanaṁ te
O supreme controller, You previously accepted incarnations as a fish, a horse, a tortoise, Narasiṁha, a boar, a swan, as a royal hero (Rāma), as a brāhmaṇa (Paraśurāma), and among the devas as Vāmana, and by Your mercy You protected the three worlds. Now also, O Lord, protect us by removing the earth’s burden and disturbances. O Kṛṣṇa, best of the Yadus, we offer You our reverent obeisances.
In every incarnation, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has a particular mission to execute, and this was true in His appearance as the son of Devakī in the family of the Yadus. Thus all the demigods offered their prayers to the Lord, bowing down before Him, and requested the Lord to do the needful. We cannot order the Supreme Personality of Godhead to do anything for us. We can simply offer Him our obeisances, as advised in Bhagavad-gītā ( man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru ), and pray to Him for annihilation of dangers.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord protects the three worlds and is requested—addressed as Yadūttama—to remove the earth’s burden, indicating His descent is for restoring dharma and relieving oppression.
In the narrative, Krishna is about to appear in the Yadu dynasty while the earth is overburdened by irreligious rulers; the devas pray to Him, recalling His many incarnations and seeking protection and relief.
Remembering that the Lord protects His devotees, one can face anxiety and injustice with steadiness—doing one’s duty while offering heartfelt prayer and trusting divine guidance.