Shloka 1
Trivakrā’s Transformation and the Breaking of Kaṁsa’s Bow
Mathurā-līlā Prelude
श्रीशुक उवाच अथ व्रजन् राजपथेन माधव: स्त्रियं गृहीताङ्गविलेपभाजनाम् । विलोक्य कुब्जां युवतीं वराननां पप्रच्छ यान्तीं प्रहसन् रसप्रद: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca atha vrajan rāja-pathena mādhavaḥ striyaṁ gṛhītāṅga-vilepa-bhājanām vilokya kubjāṁ yuvatīṁ varānanāṁ papraccha yāntīṁ prahasan rasa-pradaḥ
ശ്രീശുകൻ പറഞ്ഞു: രാജപഥത്തിലൂടെ നടന്നു പോകുമ്പോൾ മാധവൻ സുഗന്ധമുള്ള അങ്കലേപനപാത്രം കൈയിൽ പിടിച്ച് പോകുന്ന, മനോഹരമുഖമുള്ള കുബ്ജ എന്ന യുവതിയെ കണ്ടു. പ്രേമരസദായകനായ പ്രഭു പുഞ്ചിരിച്ച് അവളോട് ചോദിച്ചു.
According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, the young hunchbacked girl was actually a partial expansion of the Lord’s wife Satyabhāmā. Satyabhāmā is the Lord’s internal energy known as Bhū-śakti, and this expansion of hers, known as Pṛthivī, represents the earth, which was bent down by the great burden of countless wicked rulers. Lord Kṛṣṇa descended to remove these wicked rulers, and thus His pastime of straightening out the hunchback Trivakrā, as explained in these verses, represents His rectifying the burdened condition of the earth. At the same time, the Lord awarded Trivakrā a conjugal relationship with Himself.
FAQs
This verse introduces the meeting: Krishna, walking on the royal road in Mathura, notices Kubja carrying scented ointment and, smiling, begins to speak with her—setting the stage for His merciful interaction.
Krishna is described as rasa-prada, the giver of divine relish; His smile and inquiry show His gracious, playful mercy as He initiates a relationship that will uplift Kubja despite her external deformity.
Do not judge spiritual worth by внешние appearances; like Krishna noticing Kubja’s sincerity and engaging her kindly, cultivate respectful vision and offer your abilities in service.