Shloka 72
कुब्जानुग्रहः, धनुर्भङ्गः, कुवलयापीडवधः, मल्लयुद्धं, कंसवधः, स्तुतयः
वल्गन्ति गोपाः कृष्णेन ये चेमे सहिताः पुरः गावो ह्रियन्ताम् एतेषां यच् चास्ति वसु किंचन
valganti gopāḥ kṛṣṇena ye ceme sahitāḥ puraḥ gāvo hriyantām eteṣāṃ yac cāsti vasu kiṃcana
“These cowherds who are strutting about—along with Kṛṣṇa—and who stand here in front: let their cows be driven away, and whatever little wealth they possess be seized as well.”
Unspecified antagonist figure within the Krishna narrative (spoken as an order to seize cattle/wealth); framed by Sage Parāśara narrating to Maitreya
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Kṛṣṇa manifests to protect the cowherd community from Kaṃsa’s exploitation and to uproot adharma that preys upon simple livelihoods.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Protection of agrarian/cowherd dharma and property from tyrannical seizure; safeguarding communal welfare
Concept: Adharma is not only physical violence but also economic predation—seizing cows and livelihood from the innocent—which the Lord opposes.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Practice and support non-exploitative governance and livelihoods; protect the vulnerable and resist unjust confiscation and bullying.
Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s grace protects the material conditions of devotees’ embodied life (śarīra-bhāva) as part of their service and flourishing in His order.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Sakhya
Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi
FAQs
The verse treats cows and cattle-wealth as the very basis of Vraja’s life; the threat to seize them highlights adharma against the pastoral community that Krishna (as Vishnu) protects.
Parāśara narrates the unfolding lila where injustice rises against Krishna’s devotees, setting the stage for divine intervention that re-establishes dharma in the social and cosmic order.
Even amid ordinary threats—property, livelihood, social intimidation—Krishna is implied as the sovereign protector, the same Vishnu who preserves the world-order by safeguarding the devoted.