Shloka 39
Kṛṣṇa’s Daily Life in Dvārakā; the Captive Kings’ Appeal; Nārada Announces the Rājasūya
जीवस्य य: संसरतो विमोक्षणं न जानतोऽनर्थवहाच्छरीरत: । लीलावतारै: स्वयश:प्रदीपकं प्राज्वालयत्त्वा तमहं प्रपद्ये ॥ ३९ ॥
jīvasya yaḥ saṁsarato vimokṣaṇaṁ na jānato ’nartha-vahāc charīrataḥ līlāvatāraiḥ sva-yaśaḥ pradīpakaṁ prājvālayat tvā tam ahaṁ prapadye
El ser viviente, atrapado en el ciclo de nacimientos y muertes, no conoce el medio para liberarse del cuerpo material que trae tanta aflicción. Pero Tú, Señor Supremo, desciendes en diversas formas personales, y con Tus pasatiempos enciendes la antorcha ardiente de Tu fama para iluminar el sendero del alma; por eso me entrego a Ti.
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “[Nārada said,] In the bodily concept of existence, everyone is driven by material desires, and thus everyone develops new material bodies one after another in the cycle of birth and death. Being absorbed in such a concept of existence, one does not know how to get out of the encagement of the material body. Out of Your causeless mercy, my Lord, You descend to exhibit Your different transcendental pastimes, which are illuminating and full of glory. Therefore I have no alternative but to offer my respectful obeisances unto You. My dear Lord, You are the Supreme, Parabrahman, and Your pastimes as an ordinary human are another tactical resource, exactly like a play on the stage in which the actor plays parts different from his own identity.”
FAQs
This verse teaches that the conditioned soul often does not know the path of liberation, and that the Lord helps by manifesting His līlā-avatāras, which illuminate His glory and draw souls toward surrender and freedom.
While describing Kṛṣṇa’s activities, Śukadeva naturally concludes in devotion: recognizing that Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes are not ordinary stories but a saving revelation meant to free the jīva from bodily misidentification.
Regularly hear and remember Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes (līlā), and practice conscious surrender—reducing bodily identification and aligning daily choices with devotion, humility, and spiritual purpose.