Shloka 13
Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent
Prelude to Prahlāda’s History
अत्रैवोदाहृत: पूर्वमितिहास: सुरर्षिणा । प्रीत्या महाक्रतौ राजन् पृच्छतेऽजातशत्रवे ॥ १३ ॥
atraivodāhṛtaḥ pūrvam itihāsaḥ surarṣiṇā prītyā mahā-kratau rājan pṛcchate ’jāta-śatrave
ಹೇ ರಾಜನೇ! ಇದೇ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಂದೆ ರಾಜಸೂಯ ಮಹಾಕ್ರತುವಿನ ವೇಳೆ ದೇವರ್ಷಿ ನಾರದನು ಪ್ರೀತಿಯಿಂದ ಒಂದು ಇತಿಹಾಸವನ್ನು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದನು. ಅಜಾತಶತ್ರು ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರನ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗೆ ಉತ್ತರವಾಗಿ, ದೈತ್ಯವಧದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಭಗವಂತನು ಸದಾ ಸಮದರ್ಶಿ ಮತ್ತು ನಿರ್ಪಕ್ಷಪಾತಿ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟ ಉದಾಹರಣೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ತೋರಿಸಿದನು।
This relates to how the Lord exhibited His impartiality even when killing Śiśupāla in the arena of the Rājasūya yajña performed by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.
FAQs
Ajātaśatru is an epithet of King Yudhiṣṭhira, meaning “one whose enemy is not born,” indicating his saintly, non-envious nature.
He signals that the teaching will be supported by an earlier historical narration—spoken by Nārada Muni—used to clarify the topic being discussed in this section.
By studying Bhagavatam narratives as practical guidance—using real examples of devotees and kings to shape one’s conduct, faith, and understanding of dharma and bhakti.