Shloka 5
Nanda’s Captivity by Varuṇa and the Revelation of the Spiritual World
Brahma-hrada
श्रीवरुण उवाच अद्य मे निभृतो देहोऽद्यैवार्थोऽधिगत: प्रभो । त्वत्पादभाजो भगवन्नवापु: पारमध्वन: ॥ ५ ॥
śrī-varuṇa uvāca adya me nibhṛto deho ’dyaivārtho ’dhigataḥ prabho tvat-pāda-bhājo bhagavann avāpuḥ pāram adhvanaḥ
Śrī Varuṇa said: Today my body has found its fulfillment; today the purpose of my life is attained, O Lord. O Bhagavān, those who take shelter of Your lotus feet transcend the path of material saṁsāra.
Varuṇa ecstatically exclaims here that since he has now seen the infinitely gorgeous body of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the trouble of assuming a material body has now been supremely justified. Indeed, the artha, the goal or real value of Varuṇa’s life, has now been achieved. Because Lord Kṛṣṇa’s form is transcendental, those who accept His lotus feet go beyond the boundary of material existence, and thus only the spiritually unaware would presume that the Lord’s lotus feet are material.
FAQs
This verse states that those who take shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet cross beyond the difficult path of material existence and reach the far shore—liberation through bhakti.
After realizing Kṛṣṇa’s supreme position during the episode of Nanda Mahārāja’s release, Varuṇa expressed that seeing and honoring the Lord fulfilled his purpose and that devotion to Kṛṣṇa leads to ultimate deliverance.
Center daily choices around devotional shelter—remembering Kṛṣṇa, serving with humility, and relying on His guidance—so life’s goals align with lasting spiritual freedom rather than temporary gains.