Shloka 68
Nārada’s Instructions: Śrāddha, True Dharma, Contentment, Yoga, and Devotion-Centered Renunciation
यथा हि यूयं नृपदेव दुस्त्यजा- दापद्गणादुत्तरतात्मन: प्रभो: । यत्पादपङ्केरुहसेवया भवा- नहारषीन्निर्जितदिग्गज: क्रतून् ॥ ६८ ॥
yathā hi yūyaṁ nṛpa-deva dustyajād āpad-gaṇād uttaratātmanaḥ prabhoḥ yat-pāda-paṅkeruha-sevayā bhavān ahāraṣīn nirjita-dig-gajaḥ kratūn
Ô roi Yudhiṣṭhira, grâce à votre service aux pieds de lotus du Seigneur Suprême, vous, les Pāṇḍava, avez traversé des périls presque insurmontables suscités par de nombreux rois et demi-dieux. En servant les pieds de lotus de Śrī Kṛṣṇa, tu as vaincu de grands ennemis, tels des éléphants des directions, et rassemblé les ingrédients du sacrifice; par Sa grâce, puisses-tu être délivré de l’enchevêtrement matériel.
Placing himself as an ordinary householder, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira inquired from Nārada Muni how a gṛha-mūḍha-dhī, a person who is entangled in household life and who thus continues to remain a fool, can be delivered. Nārada Muni encouraged Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira by saying, “You are already on the safe side because you, along with your entire family, have become a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa.” By Kṛṣṇa’s grace, the Pāṇḍavas conquered in the Battle of Kurukṣetra and were saved from many dangers posed not only by kings but sometimes even by the demigods. Thus they are a practical example of how to live in security and safety by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. Everyone should follow the example of the Pāṇḍavas, who showed how to be saved by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is intended to teach how everyone can live peacefully in this material world and at the end of life return home, back to Godhead. In the material world there are always dangers at every step ( padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām ). Nonetheless, if one takes shelter of Kṛṣṇa without hesitation and keeps under the shelter of Kṛṣṇa, he can easily cross the ocean of nescience. Samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ. To the devotee, this great ocean of nescience becomes like a puddle of water in the hoofprint of a cow. A pure devotee, without embarrassing himself by trying for elevation in so many ways, stays in the safest position as a servant of Kṛṣṇa, and thus his life is eternally safe without a doubt.
FAQs
By taking shelter of the Supreme Lord within the heart and serving His lotus feet—such devotion enables one to cross even seemingly insurmountable dangers.
He highlights that Yudhiṣṭhira’s success—surviving grave crises and completing royal sacrifices—came from devotion and service to the Lord’s lotus feet, not merely political power.
When facing stress or adversity, prioritize sincere spiritual practice—remembrance of God, prayer, and service—so inner steadiness guides outer duties and responsibilities.