Shloka 20
कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्
तच् छ्रुत्वा ते तदा गोपा वज्रपातोपमं वचः गोप्यश् च त्वरिता जग्मुर् यशोदाप्रमुखा ह्रदम्
tac chrutvā te tadā gopā vajrapātopamaṃ vacaḥ gopyaś ca tvaritā jagmur yaśodāpramukhā hradam
Hearing those words—like a thunderbolt striking down—the cowherds and the cowherd-women, led foremost by Yaśodā, hurried at once to the lake.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How the cowherds and Yaśodā-led gopīs rushed to the lake on hearing the terrible news
Teaching: Historical
Quality: emotionally charged, cinematic
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Krishna’s peril draws Yaśodā and all Vraja to the lake, intensifying parental and communal devotion that culminates in divine rescue.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Protection of Vraja’s families and reaffirmation of Bhagavān’s guardianship over his devotees
Concept: Vātsalya-bhakti is portrayed as overpowering attachment to Krishna, where hearing of his danger strikes like a thunderbolt and compels immediate action.
Vedantic Theme: Moksha
Application: Let love for the Divine become practical—respond with prayer, service, and presence rather than mere sentiment.
Vishishtadvaita: Personal relationship (mother-child) with the Supreme is honored; the Lord accepts intimate bonds while remaining the transcendent protector.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Vatsalya
FAQs
It signals shocking, urgent news that compels the entire Vraja community to act immediately, intensifying the narrative tension around Krishna’s lila.
Parāśara frames Yaśodā as the natural leader among the gopīs, showing collective maternal concern and swift, decisive movement toward the site of danger.
Even when the verse focuses on human reaction, the backdrop is Krishna’s divine play—where the Supreme Lord’s presence draws devotion, fear, and protection into a single sacred drama.