Shloka 13
The Killing of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and Kaṁsa; Liberation and Restoration of Dharma in Mathurā
पुण्या बत व्रजभुवो यदयं नृलिङ्ग-गूढ: पुराणपुरुषो वनचित्रमाल्य: । गा: पालयन् सहबल: क्वणयंश्च वेणुंविक्रीडयाञ्चति गिरित्ररमार्चिताङ्घ्रि: ॥ १३ ॥
puṇyā bata vraja-bhuvo yad ayaṁ nṛ-liṅga gūḍhaḥ purāṇa-puruṣo vana-citra-mālyaḥ gāḥ pālayan saha-balaḥ kvaṇayaṁś ca veṇuṁ vikrīdayāñcati giritra-ramārcitāṅghriḥ
How blessed are the lands of Vraja! For there the primeval Supreme Person, the Purāṇa‑Puruṣa, moves about concealed in human guise, enacting His many līlās. Adorned with wondrous forest garlands, whose feet are worshiped by Giritra (Śiva) and Ramā (Lakṣmī), He herds the cows with Balarāma, making His flute resound as He sports in divine play.
In this verse the devoted ladies in the audience point out the difference between Mathurā and Vṛndāvana. They want to indicate that in Vṛndāvana Kṛṣṇa simply enjoys with His girlfriends and boyfriends, whereas here in Mathurā the Lord is subjected to harassment by the bullying tactics of professional wrestlers. Thus the ladies are condemning the city of Mathurā because of their pain at seeing Kṛṣṇa in what they consider an unfair wrestling match. Of course, Mathurā is also one of the Lord’s eternal abodes, but here the women in the assembly express their love in a critical mood.
FAQs
This verse says Vraja is blessed because the primeval Supreme Person, Kṛṣṇa, personally lives there in a human-like form, herds the cows with Balarāma, plays the flute, and performs intimate pastimes.
Śukadeva highlights the theological wonder that the eternal Supreme Lord appears as an ordinary cowherd boy, concealing His divinity while revealing it through His enchanting līlā.
Remember Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme even in His simple, approachable pastimes—cultivating devotion through hearing and chanting, and seeing holiness in humble service like protecting and caring for others.