Nanda’s Captivity by Varuṇa and the Revelation of the Spiritual World
Brahma-hrada
नन्दस्त्वतीन्द्रियं दृष्ट्वा लोकपालमहोदयम् । कृष्णे च सन्नतिं तेषां ज्ञातिभ्यो विस्मितोऽब्रवीत् ॥ १० ॥
nandas tv atīndriyaṁ dṛṣṭvā loka-pāla-mahodayam kṛṣṇe ca sannatiṁ teṣāṁ jñātibhyo vismito ’bravīt
Nanda Mahārāja was astonished to see for the first time the transcendental opulence of Varuṇa, ruler of the ocean realm, and to see Varuṇa and his attendants offer such humble respect to Kṛṣṇa. Nanda told all this to his fellow cowherd men.
This verse shows even a lokapāla like Varuṇa displaying great majesty and offering submission to Kṛṣṇa, indicating Kṛṣṇa’s supreme position beyond worldly authority.
Nanda witnessed Varuṇa’s extraordinary opulence and saw everyone respectfully bow to Kṛṣṇa; astonished by Kṛṣṇa’s greatness, he turned to tell his relatives what he had seen.
It encourages humility and devotion: recognizing that true shelter lies in the Divine rather than status or power, one can cultivate surrender, gratitude, and steadiness in faith.