Shloka 61
Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana
वरं वरय भद्रं ते वरदोहमिहागतः / हरिणोदीरितं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा प्राह स्मितानना
varaṃ varaya bhadraṃ te varadohamihāgataḥ / hariṇodīritaṃ vākyaṃ śrutvā prāha smitānanā
«Elige un don: que sea auspicioso para ti. He venido aquí como otorgador de dones». Al oír las palabras pronunciadas por Hari (Viṣṇu), ella, con rostro sonriente, respondió.
Narrator (describing Hari/Vishnu speaking, then a smiling-faced lady replying)
Concept: The Lord personally invites the devotee to articulate her desire; divine grace is responsive and dialogical.
Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as varada: the personal aspect of Brahman engages the jīva through compassion and blessing, guiding desire toward auspicious ends.
Application: In prayer, state intentions clearly and ethically; receive opportunities as ‘varadāna’ moments and respond with sincerity and gratitude.
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: varadāna episodes where the Lord tests/fulfills the devotee’s wish
FAQs
This verse frames a classic Purāṇic moment where Hari appears as varada (boon-giver), emphasizing that divine grace is granted through a purposeful, spoken request aligned with auspiciousness (bhadra).
Indirectly, it sets a narrative tone of divine instruction and grace: in the Garuda Purana, such dialogues often precede guidance on dharma, karma, and post-death outcomes, showing that right understanding can arise from divine speech.
Make your intentions explicit and auspicious: ask (varaya) for goals rooted in dharma—clarity, self-control, compassion—rather than harmful desires, reflecting the verse’s emphasis on благословение through right petition.