Shloka 33
नरकासुरवधः, अदीतिकुण्डल-प्रत्यर्पणम्, तथा भारावतरण-लीला
कन्यास् ताश् च तथा नागांस् तांश् चाश्वान् द्वारकां पुरीम् प्रेषयाम् आस गोविन्दः सद्यो नरककिंकरैः
kanyās tāś ca tathā nāgāṃs tāṃś cāśvān dvārakāṃ purīm preṣayām āsa govindaḥ sadyo narakakiṃkaraiḥ
Govinda at once sent those maidens—together with the elephants and the horses—on to the city of Dvārakā, escorted immediately by the attendants who had formerly served Naraka.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How Krishna dealt with Naraka’s captives and spoils after the victory
Teaching: Historical
Quality: revealing
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: To protect the righteous and restore what was stolen by adharma, including the liberation of captive maidens and the return of seized treasures.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Protection of women and restoration of rightful social order after tyranny
Concept: Royal power is dharmic only when it protects the vulnerable and reverses the harms of tyranny.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Use influence to safeguard those harmed by abuse and to restore dignity and rightful belonging, not merely to win conflicts.
Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s sovereignty operates within history as compassionate governance—protecting embodied souls while remaining supreme.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
It marks the immediate restoration of safety, dignity, and rightful order under Krishna’s protection, shifting them from Naraka’s unlawful captivity to the shelter of dharmic kingship at Dvārakā.
Parāśara emphasizes Krishna’s decisiveness—“sadyah” (at once)—showing divine governance that swiftly converts the aftermath of adharma into ordered protection and lawful custody.
Govinda is portrayed as Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty in action: not only defeating evil but also administering the world’s moral repair—protecting the vulnerable and re-establishing rightful order through Dvārakā.