Shloka 6
The Freed Kings Glorify Kṛṣṇa; Instruction on Kingship, Detachment, and Remembrance
श्रीशुक उवाच अयुते द्वे शतान्यष्टौ निरुद्धा युधि निर्जिता: । ते निर्गता गिरिद्रोण्यां मलिना मलवासस: ॥ १ ॥ क्षुत्क्षामा: शुष्कवदना: संरोधपरिकर्शिता: । ददृशुस्ते घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ॥ २ ॥ श्रीवत्साङ्कं चतुर्बाहुं पद्मगर्भारुणेक्षणम् । चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३ ॥ पद्महस्तं गदाशङ्ख रथाङ्गैरुपलक्षितम् । किरीटहारकटककटिसूत्राङ्गदाञ्चितम् ॥ ४ ॥ भ्राजद्वरमणिग्रीवं निवीतं वनमालया । पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां लिहन्त इव जिह्वया ॥ ५ ॥ जिघ्रन्त इव नासाभ्यां रम्भन्त इव बाहुभि: । प्रणेमुर्हतपाप्मानो मूर्धभि: पादयोर्हरे: ॥ ६ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca ayute dve śatāny aṣṭau niruddhā yudhi nirjitāḥ te nirgatā giridroṇyāṁ malinā mala-vāsasaḥ
Śukadeva Gosvāmī dit : Jarāsandha avait vaincu au combat 20 800 rois et les avait jetés dans la prison de la forteresse de Giridroṇī. Lorsqu’ils en sortirent, ils étaient sales, vêtus de haillons ; amaigris par la faim, le visage desséché, et très affaiblis par la longue captivité. Alors ils virent Śrī Hari, sombre comme un nuage, vêtu de soie jaune, portant la marque du Śrīvatsa, aux quatre bras, aux yeux de lotus et au visage paisible ; comme s’ils Le buvaient des yeux, Le goûtaient de la langue, Le respiraient du nez et L’étreignaient des bras, ils se prosternèrent, posant la tête à Ses pieds.
The kings then beheld the Lord before them. His complexion was dark blue like the color of a cloud, and He wore a yellow silk garment. He was distinguished by the Śrīvatsa mark on His chest, His four mighty arms, the pinkish hue of His eyes, which resembled the whorl of a lotus, His lovely, cheerful face, His gleaming makara earrings and the lotus, club, conchshell and disc in His hands. A helmet, a jeweled necklace, a golden belt, and golden bracelets and armlets decorated His form, and on His neck He wore both the brilliant, precious Kaustubha gem and a garland of forest flowers. The kings seemed to drink His beauty with their eyes, lick Him with their tongues, relish His fragrance with their nostrils and embrace Him with their arms. Their past sins now eradicated, the kings all bowed down to Lord Hari, placing their heads at His feet.
FAQs
These verses show that the imprisoned kings, upon beholding Hari’s divine form, became “hata-pāpmānaḥ” (their sins destroyed) and naturally bowed at His feet—indicating the purifying power of the Lord’s darśana when met with devotion and surrender.
They are the princes captured after being defeated in battle and kept confined (saṁrodha). Having endured hunger and harsh imprisonment, they emerge from the mountain cavern and are liberated by encountering Lord Kṛṣṇa (Hari).
Practice focused remembrance through hearing and chanting (śravaṇa-kīrtana), contemplate the Lord’s form and qualities described in scripture, and express humility through prayer and service—so the mind learns to “drink” the Lord’s presence with full attention.