Shloka 17
Uddhava’s Remembrance of Kṛṣṇa and the Theology of the Lord’s Disappearance
दुनोति चेत: स्मरतो ममैतद् यदाह पादावभिवन्द्य पित्रो: । ताताम्ब कंसादुरुशङ्कितानां प्रसीदतं नोऽकृतनिष्कृतीनाम् ॥ १७ ॥
dunoti cetaḥ smarato mamaitad yad āha pādāv abhivandya pitroḥ tātāmba kaṁsād uru-śaṅkitānāṁ prasīdataṁ no ’kṛta-niṣkṛtīnām
Because of great fear of Kaṁsa and living far from home, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma could not serve the lotus feet of Their parents; thus the Lord begged, “O Mother, O Father, please forgive Us.” Remembering this pains my heart.
It appears that Lord Kṛṣṇa and Baladeva were both very greatly afraid of Kaṁsa, and therefore They had to hide Themselves. But if Lord Kṛṣṇa and Baladeva are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, how was it possible that They were afraid of Kaṁsa? Is there any contradiction in such statements? Vasudeva, due to his great appreciation for Kṛṣṇa, wanted to give Him protection. He never thought that Kṛṣṇa was the Supreme Lord and could protect Himself; he thought of Kṛṣṇa as his son. Because Vasudeva was a great devotee of the Lord, he did not like to think that Kṛṣṇa might be killed like his other children. Morally, Vasudeva was bound to deliver Kṛṣṇa to the hands of Kaṁsa because he had promised to turn over all his children. But out of his great love for Kṛṣṇa he broke his promise, and the Lord was very pleased with Vasudeva for his transcendental mentality. He did not want to disturb the intense affection of Vasudeva, and thus He agreed to be carried by His father to the house of Nanda and Yaśodā. And just to test the intense love of Vasudeva, Lord Kṛṣṇa fell down in the waters of the Yamunā while His father was crossing the river. Vasudeva became mad after his child as he tried to recover Him in the midst of the rising river.
FAQs
This verse recalls Krishna bowing at Vasudeva and Devaki’s feet and asking their forgiveness, showing that divine love expresses itself as humility, gratitude, and gentleness even when the Lord is supreme.
He acknowledges their constant danger and anxiety under Kaṁsa’s tyranny, and He consoles them while expressing sorrow that circumstances prevented Him from serving them openly and repaying their parental care.
Practice gratitude: honor parents and elders, acknowledge sacrifices made for you, and seek to repay kindness through service, respectful speech, and responsible living—especially when circumstances have limited your ability to help.