Shloka 18
अक्रूरस्य यमुनादर्शनम्, मथुराप्रवेशः, रजकवधः, माल्यजीवकवरदानम्
विकासिनेत्रयुगलो मालाकारो ऽपि विस्मितः एतौ कस्य कुतो वैतौ मैत्रेयाचिन्तयत् ततः
vikāsinetrayugalo mālākāro 'pi vismitaḥ etau kasya kuto vaitau maitreyācintayat tataḥ
The garland-maker too, his eyes widening in astonishment, stood amazed. Then Maitreya reflected: “To whom do these two belong, and from where have they come?”
Sage Parāśara (narrating); the inner thought is attributed to Maitreya in the verse
Speaker: Maitreya
Topic: Who are these two wondrous youths, and from where have they come?
Teaching: Devotional
Quality: inquiring
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: To draw forth latent devotion in ordinary citizens by revealing divine beauty that awakens wonder and inquiry.
Leela: Dharma-upadesa
Dharma Restored: Turning human perception from worldly fear to discernment of the divine presence
Concept: Awe and questioning before divine beauty can be the first movement of bhakti, ripening into recognition and surrender.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Let wonder soften cynicism; when encountering excellence or holiness, pause, inquire, and orient the mind toward the divine source.
Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti begins in the jīva through grace-mediated perception; the Lord becomes knowable through auspicious attributes (kalyāṇa-guṇas).
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse highlights the Purāṇic method of teaching through curiosity—Maitreya’s inquiry becomes the trigger for the next revelation in the narrative.
Parāśara frames the story by reporting reactions (astonishment) and inner questioning, using Maitreya’s reflective doubt to transition into further explanation.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇa’s narrative assumes a Vishnu-governed order in which surprising encounters and destinies unfold under supreme sovereignty.