Shloka 37
Rājasūya: Agrapūjā for Kṛṣṇa and the Slaying (and Liberation) of Śiśupāla
ब्रह्मर्षिसेवितान् देशान् हित्वैतेऽब्रह्मवर्चसम् । समुद्रं दुर्गमाश्रित्य बाधन्ते दस्यव: प्रजा: ॥ ३७ ॥
brahmarṣi-sevitān deśān hitvaite ’brahma-varcasam samudraṁ durgam āśritya bādhante dasyavaḥ prajāḥ
They have abandoned the holy lands served by the brahmarṣis and taken shelter in a place devoid of brahminical splendor. Relying on an inaccessible sea-fortress, they harass their subjects like thieves.
The words brahmarṣi-sevitān deśān (“holy lands inhabited by saintly sages”) allude to the district of Mathurā. Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “Śiśupāla went crazy because of Kṛṣṇa’s being elected the supreme, first worshiped person in that meeting, and he spoke so irresponsibly that it appeared that he had lost all his good fortune.”
FAQs
This verse describes how lawless bandits, abandoning civilized regions guided by brahminical culture, hide in difficult terrain and oppress the people—highlighting the need for righteous protection under rāja-dharma.
The ocean represents a hard-to-reach refuge; the verse explains that criminals take shelter in inaccessible places to avoid justice while continuing to trouble the populace.
It emphasizes supporting dharmic leadership and institutions that uphold learning, integrity, and public welfare, so that society is protected from exploitation and disorder.