Shloka 25

Uddhava’s Remembrance of Kṛṣṇa and the Theology of the Lord’s Disappearance

Devanagari script

वसुदेवस्य देवक्यां जातो भोजेन्द्रबन्धने । चिकीर्षुर्भगवानस्या: शमजेनाभियाचित: ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

vasudevasya devakyāṁ jāto bhojendra-bandhane cikīrṣur bhagavān asyāḥ śam ajenābhiyācitaḥ

Translation

Prayed to by Brahmā for the welfare of the earth, Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa appeared as the son of Vasudeva in Devakī’s womb, within the prison of the Bhoja king.

Synonyms

• वसुदेवस्य: of Vasudeva
• वसुदेवस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• देवक्याम्: in Devakī
• देवक्याम्: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• जातः: born
• जातः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Subject predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) + जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः—“born”

• भोजेन्द्र-बन्धने: in the prison of the Bhoja-king (Kaṁsa)
• भोजेन्द्र-बन्धने: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज-इन्द्र-बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक; components: भोज + इन्द्र + बन्धन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“भोजेन्द्रस्य बन्धनम्”

• चिकीर्षुः: wishing to do (to accomplish)
• चिकीर्षुः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + चिकीर्षु (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इच्छार्थक कृदन्त (सन्-इच्छार्थ/Desiderative) ‘चिकीर्षु’ (to wish to do), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• अस्याः: of her
• अस्याः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शम्: welfare, peace
• शम्: प्रयोजन/भाव (adverbial sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/adverbial noun), अर्थः—कल्याणम्/शान्तिः

• अजेन: by Brahmā (the Unborn)
• अजेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• अभियाचितः: requested (entreated)
• अभियाचितः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Subject predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच् (धातु) + अभि- (उपसर्ग) + याचित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि—“having been requested/entreated”

Purport

Although there is no difference between the Lord’s pastimes of appearance and disappearance, the devotees of the Lord do not generally discuss the subject matter of His disappearance. Vidura inquired indirectly from Uddhava about the incident of the Lord’s disappearance by asking him to relate kṛṣṇa-kathā, or topics on the history of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Thus Uddhava began the topics from the very beginning of His appearance as the son of Vasudeva and Devakī in the prison of Kaṁsa, the King of the Bhojas, at Mathurā. The Lord has no business in this world, but when He is so requested by devotees like Brahmā, He descends to the earth for the welfare of the entire universe. This is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.8) : paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām/ dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge.

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Devakī
• Kaṁsa
• Brahmā
• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

Why did Krishna take birth in Devaki and Vasudeva while they were in Kamsa’s prison?

This verse says the Lord appeared in the Bhoja king’s prison to fulfill His divine mission, responding to the earnest prayers of Brahmā and the devas.

Who is the speaker of Bhagavatam 3.2.25 and to whom is it spoken?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating to King Parīkṣit, as part of remembering the Lord’s pastimes.

How can devotees apply the message of Krishna’s birth in prison in modern life?

Even in restrictive or painful circumstances, one can remember that the Lord can manifest His grace and purpose; steady remembrance and prayerful devotion become the practical path.