Shloka 19
Uddhava Recalls Kṛṣṇa’s Mission: Earth’s Burden, Royal Dharma, and the Prelude to Dvārakā’s Withdrawal
भगवानपि विश्वात्मा लोकवेदपथानुग: । कामान् सिषेवे द्वार्वत्यामसक्त: सांख्यमास्थित: ॥ १९ ॥
bhagavān api viśvātmā loka-veda-pathānugaḥ kāmān siṣeve dvārvatyām asaktaḥ sāṅkhyam āsthitaḥ
នៅពេលដំណាលគ្នា ព្រះបរមេស្វរ ដែលជាព្រលឹងនៃសកលលោក បានរីករាយជីវិតនៅទ្វារកា ដោយគោរពតាមប្រពៃណីសង្គម និងវិធានវេដៈយ៉ាងតឹងរឹង; ទោះយ៉ាងណា ព្រះអង្គស្ថិតក្នុងភាពមិនជាប់ចិត្ត និងក្នុងចំណេះដឹង-វៃរាគ្យ ដូចដែលសាំងខ្យៈបានបង្ហាញ។
While Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was the Emperor of the earth, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was the King of Dvārakā and was known as Dvārakādhīśa. Like other subordinate kings, He was under the regime of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. Although Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the supreme emperor of the entire creation, while He was on this earth He never violated the principles of the Vedic injunctions because they are the guide for human life. Regulated human life according to the Vedic principles, which are based on the system of knowledge called Sāṅkhya philosophy, is the real way of enjoyment of the necessities of life. Without such knowledge, detachment and custom, the so-called human civilization is no more than an animal society of eat, drink, be merry and enjoy. The Lord was acting freely, as He willed, yet by His practical example He taught not to lead a life which goes against the principles of detachment and knowledge. Attainment of knowledge and detachment, as very elaborately discussed in Sāṅkhya philosophy, is the real perfection of life. Knowledge means to know that the mission of the human form of life is to end all the miseries of material existence and that in spite of having to fulfill the bodily necessities in a regulated way, one must be detached from such animal life. Fulfilling the demands of the body is animal life, and fulfilling the mission of the spirit soul is the human mission.
FAQs
This verse explains that Kṛṣṇa, though the Supreme Soul, accepted worldly dealings in Dvārakā while remaining asakta—internally detached and established in sāṅkhya, spiritual discrimination.
To show that the Lord sets the standard for dharma: He honors Vedic and social codes to teach humanity, even though He is never bound by them.
Perform duties and relationships responsibly, but keep the heart anchored in spiritual understanding—enjoy what comes by dharma, without possessiveness or identity based on enjoyment.