Shloka 8
Kṛṣṇa Visits Trivakrā; Akrūra’s Praise and the Hastināpura Mission
सैवं कैवल्यनाथं तं प्राप्य दुष्प्राप्यमीश्वरम् । अङ्गरागार्पणेनाहो दुर्भगेदमयाचत ॥ ८ ॥
saivaṁ kaivalya-nāthaṁ taṁ prāpya duṣprāpyam īśvaram aṅga-rāgārpaṇenāho durbhagedam ayācata
Thus, having attained the hard-to-attain Supreme Lord—the Master of liberation—by the simple offering of body ointment, unfortunate Trivakrā, alas, submitted to Him the following request.
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Śrīmatī Trivakrā prayed to the Lord, “Please enjoy only with me, and not with any other woman.” Because Kṛṣṇa was not prepared to grant such a benediction, Trivakrā is described here as unfortunate. Śrīdhara Svāmī adds that although to ordinary eyes she seemed to beg for material sex pleasure, in fact she was a liberated soul at this point.
FAQs
This verse highlights that even after attaining the Supreme Lord—master of liberation—one may still ask for trivial or worldly things; the implied teaching is to seek higher spiritual benedictions, especially devotion.
Because she had the rare opportunity to ask the Lord of liberation for the highest boon, yet she requested only the chance to anoint His body with fragrant ointment—valuable as service, but small compared to the supreme gift of pure bhakti or liberation.
When approaching God, prioritize prayers for remembrance, devotion, purification, and service—rather than limiting one’s requests to minor comforts or ego-based desires.