Shloka 35
Rājasūya: Agrapūjā for Kṛṣṇa and the Slaying (and Liberation) of Śiśupāla
वर्णाश्रमकुलापेत: सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृत: । स्वैरवर्ती गुणैर्हीन: सपर्यां कथमर्हति ॥ ३५ ॥
varṇāśrama-kulāpetaḥ sarva-dharma-bahiṣ-kṛtaḥ svaira-vartī guṇair hīnaḥ saparyāṁ katham arhati
How can one who has fallen away from varṇāśrama and family duty, been cast out from all religious obligations, acts whimsically, and lacks good qualities—how can such a person deserve worship?
Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “Actually, Kṛṣṇa does not belong to any caste, nor does He have to perform any occupational duty. It is stated in the Vedas that the Supreme Lord has nothing to do as His prescribed duty. Whatever has to be done on His behalf is executed by His different energies.… Śiśupāla indirectly praised Kṛṣṇa by saying that He is not within the jurisdiction of Vedic injunction. This is true because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That He has no qualities means that Kṛṣṇa has no material qualities, and because He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He acts independently, not caring for conventions or social or religious principles.”
FAQs
This verse shows Śiśupāla trying to disqualify Kṛṣṇa using external social-religious criteria; the Bhāgavatam’s narrative overturns this mindset by establishing Kṛṣṇa’s supreme worthiness of worship beyond material designations.
When Kṛṣṇa was honored first in Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya, Śiśupāla, driven by envy and hostility, publicly denounced Him to oppose that worship and provoke the gathered kings.
Do not measure spiritual greatness only by birth, status, or social labels; cultivate humility and avoid offensive criticism, especially toward sincere devotees and sacred worship.