Shloka 67
The Yadu–Vṛṣṇi–Andhaka Genealogies and the Purpose of Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
पृथ्व्या: स वै गुरुभरं क्षपयन् कुरूणा-मन्त:समुत्थकलिना युधि भूपचम्व: । दृष्टया विधूय विजये जयमुद्विघोष्यप्रोच्योद्धवाय च परं समगात् स्वधाम ॥ ६७ ॥ येऽन्येऽरविन्दाक्ष विमुक्तमानिन-स्त्वय्यस्तभावादविशुद्धबुद्धय: । आरुह्य कृच्छ्रेण परं पदं तत:पतन्त्यधोऽनादृतयुष्मदङ्घ्रय: ॥
pṛthvyāḥ sa vai guru-bharaṁ kṣapayan kurūṇām antaḥ-samuttha-kalinā yudhi bhūpa-camvaḥ dṛṣṭyā vidhūya vijaye jayam udvighoṣya procyoddhavāya ca paraṁ samagāt sva-dhāma
Thereafter, to lessen the earth’s burden, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa stirred dissension among the Kurus, born of Kali. On Kurukṣetra He destroyed the demoniac kings by His mere glance and had Arjuna’s victory proclaimed with cries of triumph. At last He instructed Uddhava in transcendental life and bhakti, and then returned to His own abode in His original form. O lotus-eyed Lord, those who deem themselves liberated yet lack devotion to You have impure understanding; though with great hardship they rise to the supreme position, they fall again for neglecting Your feet.
Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām. The mission of Lord Kṛṣṇa was performed on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, for by the Lord’s mercy Arjuna was victorious due to being a great devotee whereas the others were killed simply by the Lord’s glance, which cleansed them of all sinful activities and enabled them to attain sārūpya. Finally, Lord Kṛṣṇa instructed Uddhava about the transcendental life of devotional service, and then, in due course of time, He returned to His abode. The Lord’s instructions in the form of Bhagavad-gītā are full of jñāna and vairāgya, knowledge and renunciation. In the human form of life, one must learn these two things — how to become detached from the material world and how to acquire full knowledge in spiritual life. This is the Lord’s mission ( paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām ). After executing His complete mission, the Lord returned to His home, Goloka Vṛndāvana.
FAQs
This verse says that those who think they are liberated but lack devotion to the lotus-eyed Lord may rise with great effort to a high spiritual position, yet they fall down again because they neglect His lotus feet.
Śukadeva explains that after completing His mission of relieving the earth’s burden and withdrawing His dynasty, Krishna instructed Uddhava and then departed—showing that His final acts included guiding His devotee and establishing dharma through divine instruction.
Pursue spiritual practice with bhakti—remembrance, prayer, and service to Krishna—rather than pride in “being advanced,” because steady devotion is presented here as the safeguard against spiritual decline.