Shloka 24
Uddhava Recalls Kṛṣṇa’s Mission: Earth’s Burden, Royal Dharma, and the Prelude to Dvārakā’s Withdrawal
पुर्यां कदाचित्क्रीडद्भिर्यदुभोजकुमारकै: । कोपिता मुनय: शेपुर्भगवन्मतकोविदा: ॥ २४ ॥
puryāṁ kadācit krīḍadbhir yadu-bhoja-kumārakaiḥ kopitā munayaḥ śepur bhagavan-mata-kovidāḥ
Once in the city, the princely descendants of the Yadu and Bhoja dynasties were sporting in play. The great sages, angered by their behavior and knowing the Lord’s intent, pronounced a curse upon them.
The associates of the Lord who were playing the part of princely descendants of the Yadu and Bhoja dynasties were not ordinary living entities. It is not possible that they could offend any saintly man or sage, nor could the sages, who were all pure devotees of the Lord, be influenced to anger by any of the sporting activities of the princes born in the holy dynasties of Yadu or Bhoja, wherein the Lord Himself appeared as a descendant. The cursing of the princes by the sages was another transcendental pastime of the Lord to make a show of anger. The princes were cursed in order that one may know that even the descendants of the Lord, who could never be vanquished by any act of material nature, were subjected to the reactions of anger by great devotees of the Lord. One should therefore take great care and attention not to commit an offense at the feet of a devotee of the Lord.
FAQs
Because the princes, while playing, offended and provoked the sages; the sages then pronounced a curse, acting in a way aligned with the Supreme Lord’s overarching plan.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating these events to King Parīkṣit.
It warns against disrespecting saintly persons and teaches that even difficult consequences can unfold within a larger divine purpose—encouraging humility and careful conduct.