Shloka 20
Vasudeva and Devakī Glorify Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; The Recovery of Devakī’s Six Sons from Sutala
सूतीगृहे ननु जगाद भवानजो नौ सञ्जज्ञ इत्यनुयुगं निजधर्मगुप्त्यै । नानातनूर्गगनवद् विदधज्जहासि को वेद भूम्न उरुगाय विभूतिमायाम् ॥ २० ॥
sūtī-gṛhe nanu jagāda bhavān ajo nau sañjajña ity anu-yugaṁ nija-dharma-guptyai nānā-tanūr gagana-vad vidadhaj jahāsi ko veda bhūmna uru-gāya vibhūti-māyām
Aun en la sala de parto nos dijiste que Tú, el Señor no nacido, ya habías nacido muchas veces como nuestro hijo en edades pasadas. Para proteger Tus propios principios de dharma manifestaste diversos cuerpos trascendentales y luego los volviste no manifiestos, apareciendo y desapareciendo como una nube. Oh Señor omnipenetrante, cantado en grandes himnos, ¿quién puede comprender la potencia mística y veladora de Tus opulentas expansiones?
Lord Kṛṣṇa was first born to Vasudeva and Devakī in their previous lives as Sutapā and Pṛśni. Later they again became His parents as Kaśyapa and Aditi. This, then, was the third time He had appeared as their son.
FAQs
This verse states that Kṛṣṇa is aja (unborn), yet He declares “I have taken birth,” showing His appearance is a divine manifestation, not forced by karma.
Vasudeva is offering reverent praise, recalling Kṛṣṇa’s words at His birth and acknowledging that the Lord appears in every age to protect dharma through His inconceivable potency.
It encourages humility and faith: rather than trying to reduce the Divine to ordinary logic, one can focus on dharma, devotion, and gratitude for the Lord’s guidance across changing times.