Shloka 49
अर्जुनस्य अन्त्येष्टि, द्वारकाप्लावनम्, कलिप्रवेशः, कालोपदेशः
यस्यानुभावाद् भीष्माद्यैर् मय्य् अग्नौ शलभायितम् विना तेनाद्य कृष्णेन गोपालैर् अस्मि निर्जितः
yasyānubhāvād bhīṣmādyair mayy agnau śalabhāyitam vinā tenādya kṛṣṇena gopālair asmi nirjitaḥ
By the sheer majesty of Him—through whose power even Bhīṣma and others were reduced to ashes in me, the fire, like moths—today, without that very Kṛṣṇa, I have been overcome by mere cowherd boys.
Agni (the Fire-god), speaking in astonishment at Krishna’s supremacy
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: To demonstrate that all prowess depends on Him, and that without His protecting presence even great heroes become vulnerable, signaling the shift into Kali.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Implicit warning: dharma stands by divine shelter; without it, social order collapses
Concept: Heroic power is contingent: when the Lord who empowers withdraws, even ‘fire-like’ might is checked by the insignificant.
Vedantic Theme: Maya
Application: Practice non-attachment to status and capability; ground confidence in devotion and discipline, not in past achievements.
Vishishtadvaita: The jīva’s capacities are real yet subordinate; the Lord as inner ruler enables or withdraws śakti according to cosmic purpose.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Dasya
Antaryamin: Yes
FAQs
It highlights that cosmic deities function under the Supreme Lord’s sanction; without Krishna’s presence or will, even Agni’s innate power is checked.
By contrasting Agni’s ability to consume mighty heroes like Bhishma with his present inability against simple cowherds—showing the decisive factor is Krishna’s divine power, not worldly status.
Krishna is implied as the Supreme Reality who governs all powers; the verse frames all strength—divine or human—as dependent on him, aligning with Vaishnava doctrines of ultimate sovereignty.