Shloka 19
केशीवधः तथा ‘केशव’ नामप्रसिद्धिः
साधु साधु जगन्नाथ लीलयैव यद् अच्युत निहतो ऽयं त्वया केशी क्लेशदस् त्रिदिवौकसाम्
sādhu sādhu jagannātha līlayaiva yad acyuta nihato 'yaṃ tvayā keśī kleśadas tridivaukasām
Well done, well done, O Jagannātha, Lord of the universe! O Acyuta, it is truly wondrous that, as if in mere divine play, you have slain Keśī, the tormentor of the dwellers of the three heavens.
The devas (celestial beings), praising Sri Krishna after Keśī’s death
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: To protect Vraja and the devas by destroying the asura Keśī who was tormenting the three worlds.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Safety of the worlds and the uninterrupted order of divine governance (deva-loka protection).
Concept: The Lord’s world-protecting acts, though performed as līlā, are worthy of praise and are the ground of devotee wonder and gratitude.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Recollect the Lord’s līlās in daily japa/reading and offer verbal praise (stuti) to cultivate steadiness of devotion.
Vishishtadvaita: The transcendent Lord engages in accessible, playful action within the world to protect it, showing immanence without loss of supremacy.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
FAQs
This verse frames Keśī’s death as “līlā,” highlighting Vishnu-Krishna’s effortless supremacy: cosmic threats are removed not by strain, but by the Lord’s sovereign play for restoring dharma.
The devas praise Krishna as Jagannātha and Acyuta, implying their reliance on him for protection and order; even celestial realms are relieved when the Lord removes an asuric burden.
“Jagannātha” asserts universal lordship, while “Acyuta” affirms infallible, unshakable divinity—central to Vaishnava readings where Krishna is the Supreme Reality acting within history.