Shloka 3
Nanda’s Captivity by Varuṇa and the Revelation of the Spiritual World
Brahma-hrada
चुक्रुशुस्तमपश्यन्त: कृष्ण रामेति गोपका: । भगवांस्तदुपश्रुत्य पितरं वरुणाहृतम् । तदन्तिकं गतो राजन्स्वानामभयदो विभु: ॥ ३ ॥
cukruśus tam apaśyantaḥ kṛṣṇa rāmeti gopakāḥ bhagavāṁs tad upaśrutya pitaraṁ varuṇāhṛtam tad-antikaṁ gato rājan svānām abhaya-do vibhuḥ
O King, not seeing Nanda Mahārāja, the cowherd men cried out loudly, “O Kṛṣṇa! O Rāma!” Lord Kṛṣṇa heard them and understood that His father had been seized by Varuṇa; thus the almighty Lord, who grants fearlessness to His devotees, went to the court of Varuṇadeva.
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that when Nanda Mahārāja went to bathe in the river, he was accompanied by several cowherd men. When Nanda did not come out of the water, they began to cry out, and Lord Kṛṣṇa immediately came there. Understanding the situation, Śrī Kṛṣṇa entered the water and went to the court of the demigod Varuṇa, determined to free His father and the other cowherd men from fear of a mere demigod.
FAQs
This verse calls Kṛṣṇa “abhayadaḥ”—the giver of fearlessness—showing that when His devotees are distressed, He personally acts to remove their fear and protect them.
Hearing the boys cry “Kṛṣṇa! Rāma!” and learning that His father Nanda had been taken by Varuṇa, Kṛṣṇa immediately went to Varuṇa’s abode to rescue him.
When anxiety arises, take shelter through sincere prayer and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa, trusting that the Lord guides and protects those who turn to Him with devotion.