Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 26
Kṛṣṇa Leads Kālayavana to Mucukunda; The Yavana Is Burned; Mucukunda’s Prayers and Boon of Bhakti
तमालोक्य घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् । श्रीवत्सवक्षसं भ्राजत्कौस्तुभेन विराजितम् ॥ २३ ॥ चतुर्भुजं रोचमानं वैजयन्त्या च मालया । चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ २४ ॥ प्रेक्षणीयं नृलोकस्य सानुरागस्मितेक्षणम् । अपीव्यवयसं मत्तमृगेन्द्रोदारविक्रमम् ॥ २५ ॥ पर्यपृच्छन्महाबुद्धिस्तेजसा तस्य धर्षित: । शङ्कित: शनकै राजा दुर्धर्षमिव तेजसा ॥ २६ ॥
tam ālokya ghana-śyāmaṁ pīta-kauśeya-vāsasam śrīvatsa-vakṣasaṁ bhrājat kaustubhena virājitam
主を見つめたムチュクンダ王は、雲のように濃い青黒の御身、黄の絹衣をまとい、胸にシュリーヴァツァの印、首に燦然たるカウストゥバ宝珠を戴くお方を見た。四臂にしてヴァイジャヤンティーの花輪で飾られ、端正で安らかな御顔、マカラ形の耳飾りがきらめき、慈愛の微笑を含む眼差しは人々の目を奪った。若々しい美は比類なく、歩みは怒れる獅子のごとく威厳に満ちていた。その光輝に圧倒され、無敵なることを悟った賢王は、ためらいながらも徐々に聖なるクリシュナに問いかけた。
It is significant that text 24 states, catur-bhujaṁ rocamānam: “The Lord was seen in the beauty of His four-armed form.” Throughout this great work, we find Lord Kṛṣṇa manifesting His various transcendental forms, most prominently the two-armed form of Kṛṣṇa and the four-armed form of Nārāyaṇa or Viṣṇu. Thus there is no doubt that Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu are nondifferent, or that Kṛṣṇa is the original form of the Lord. These things are sometimes misunderstood, but the great ācāryas, experts in spiritual science, have clarified the matter for us. God in His original form is not merely the creator, maintainer and destroyer, or the punisher of conditioned souls, but rather the infinitely beautiful Godhead, enjoying in His own right, in His own abode. This is the form of Kṛṣṇa, the same Kṛṣṇa who expands Himself into Viṣṇu forms for the maintenance of our bumbling world.
FAQs
This verse shows that Kṛṣṇa’s spiritual radiance is so overwhelming and irresistible that even a powerful, wise king becomes cautious and humbled in His presence.
Because the king felt overpowered by the Lord’s extraordinary splendor; his natural awe and reverence made him hesitant, so he approached with careful, respectful inquiry.
Approach sacred knowledge with humility—when encountering something higher than oneself (scripture, saintly guidance, or God), slow down, become receptive, and ask sincere questions.