Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 16
Uddhava’s Departure to Badarikāśrama and Vidura’s Turn Toward Maitreya
कर्माण्यनीहस्य भवोऽभवस्य ते दुर्गाश्रयोऽथारिभयात्पलायनम् । कालात्मनो यत्प्रमदायुताश्रम: स्वात्मन्रते: खिद्यति धीर्विदामिह ॥ १६ ॥
karmāṇy anīhasya bhavo ’bhavasya te durgāśrayo ’thāri-bhayāt palāyanam kālātmano yat pramadā-yutāśramaḥ svātman-rateḥ khidyati dhīr vidām iha
Mon Seigneur, même les sages instruits voient leur intelligence troublée lorsqu’ils constatent que Tu accomplis des actes porteurs de fruits bien que Tu sois sans désir, que Tu nais bien que Tu sois non-né, que Tu fuis par crainte de l’ennemi et cherches refuge dans une forteresse bien que Tu sois le maître du Temps invincible, et que Tu goûtes la vie de foyer entouré de nombreuses femmes bien que Tu te réjouisses en Toi-même.
Pure devotees of the Lord are not very much concerned with philosophical speculation in regard to transcendental knowledge of the Lord. Nor is it possible to acquire complete knowledge of the Lord. Whatever little knowledge they have about the Lord is sufficient for them because devotees are simply satisfied in hearing and chanting about the transcendental pastimes of the Lord. This gives them all transcendental bliss. But some of the pastimes of the Lord appear contradictory, even to such pure devotees, and thus Uddhava asked the Lord about some of the contradictory incidents in His pastimes. The Lord is described as having nothing to do personally, and it is actually so because even in the creation and sustenance of the material world, the Lord has nothing to do. It seems contradictory, then, to hear that the Lord personally lifts the Govardhana Hill for the protection of His unalloyed devotees. The Lord is the Supreme Brahman, the Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead appearing like a man, but Uddhava had doubts whether He could have so many transcendental activities.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord is actually actionless and unborn, yet He performs deeds and appears to take birth by His own divine will—His līlā, not material compulsion.
Vidura highlights well-known episodes of Krishna’s pastimes (such as Dvārakā’s fortification and strategic withdrawal from battle) to show that even actions that look human are part of His inconceivable divine plan.
The verse advises humility: God’s ways can exceed logic. A devotee balances reason with reverent hearing (śravaṇa) and trust in scripture, instead of judging the divine by ordinary standards.