Shloka 32
Utthāna Ceremony, Śakaṭa-bhañga, Tṛṇāvarta-vadha, and the Vision of the Universe in Kṛṣṇa’s Mouth
किं नस्तपश्चीर्णमधोक्षजार्चनं पूर्तेष्टदत्तमुत भूतसौहृदम् । यत्सम्परेत: पुनरेव बालको दिष्टया स्वबन्धून् प्रणयन्नुपस्थित: ॥ ३२ ॥
kiṁ nas tapaś cīrṇam adhokṣajārcanaṁ pūrteṣṭa-dattam uta bhūta-sauhṛdam yat samparetaḥ punar eva bālako diṣṭyā sva-bandhūn praṇayann upasthitaḥ
Nanda Mahārāja and the others said: Surely we must have performed long austerities, worshiped the Supreme Lord Adhokṣaja, done pious works for the public good, and given charity; by that merit this boy, though he faced death, has returned and now brings joy to His own relatives.
Nanda Mahārāja confirmed that by pious activities one can become a sādhu so that one will be happy at home and one’s children will be protected. In śāstra there are many injunctions for karmīs and jñānīs, especially for karmīs, by which they can become pious and happy even in material life. According to Vedic civilization, one should perform activities for the benefit of the public, such as constructing public roads, planting trees on both sides of the road so that people can walk in the shade, and constructing public wells so that everyone can take water without difficulty. One should perform austerity to control one’s desires, and one must simultaneously worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus one becomes pious, and as a result one is happy even in material conditions of life.
FAQs
This verse shows the Vrajavāsīs attributing Kṛṣṇa’s safe return to accumulated spiritual merit—tapas (austerity), Adhokṣaja worship, pūrta-iṣṭa (pious works and sacrifice), dāna (charity), and bhūta-sauhṛda (kindness to all beings)—ultimately acknowledging divine providence (diṣṭyā).
They use “Adhokṣaja” to indicate the Supreme Lord who is beyond the reach of material senses and ordinary logic, implying that Kṛṣṇa’s protection is a transcendental act of grace rather than merely a worldly event.
Practice non-harm, empathy, and service—speaking truthfully yet kindly, helping others without exploitation, and extending compassion to animals and humans—while connecting these acts to devotion (bhakti) as offerings to the Lord.