Shloka 35
Kṛṣṇa Comforts His Parents, Restores Ugrasena, Studies with Sāndīpani, and Returns the Guru’s Son
सर्वं नरवरश्रेष्ठौ सर्वविद्याप्रवर्तकौ । सकृन्निगदमात्रेण तौ सञ्जगृहतुर्नृप ॥ ३५ ॥ अहोरात्रैश्चतु:षष्ट्या संयत्तौ तावती: कला: । गुरुदक्षिणयाचार्यं छन्दयामासतुर्नृप ॥ ३६ ॥
sarvaṁ nara-vara-śreṣṭhau sarva-vidyā-pravartakau sakṛn nigada-mātreṇa tau sañjagṛhatur nṛpa
O King, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma—the best of persons and the original source of all knowledge—immediately mastered every subject upon hearing it explained just once. Thus, with steady concentration, They learned the sixty-four arts in sixty-four days and nights, and afterward pleased Their teacher by offering guru-dakṣiṇā.
The following list comprises the sixty-four subjects mastered by Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma in sixty-four days. Additional information may be found in Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
In Canto 10, Chapter 45, Śukadeva explains that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma mastered all disciplines simply by hearing them once, showing their divine completeness even while performing human-like pastimes.
They enacted the ideal conduct (maryādā) for society—honoring the guru and the discipline of learning—so people would value education, humility, and guru-sevā.
Approach learning with humility, attentive hearing (śravaṇa), and respect for teachers; spiritual growth also depends on focused listening and sincere service.