Shloka 24

Nanda Mahārāja Celebrates Kṛṣṇa’s Birth; Vasudeva Warns of Danger

Devanagari script

दिष्टय‍ा संसारचक्रेऽस्मिन् वर्तमान: पुनर्भव: । उपलब्धो भवानद्य दुर्लभं प्रियदर्शनम् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

diṣṭyā saṁsāra-cakre ’smin vartamānaḥ punar-bhavaḥ upalabdho bhavān adya durlabhaṁ priya-darśanam

Translation

ഈ സംസാരചക്രത്തിൽ കഴിയുമ്പോഴും ഇന്ന് നിങ്ങളുടെ ദർശനം എനിക്ക് പുനർജന്മം ലഭിച്ചതുപോലെ; പ്രിയജനങ്ങളെ കാണുക അത്യന്തം ദുർലഭം.

Synonyms

• दिष्ट्या: fortunately
• दिष्ट्या: Sambandha (भावसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दिष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; मङ्गलार्थे/हर्षे (interjection/adverbial)

• संसारचक्रे: in the wheel of worldly existence
• संसारचक्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार-चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (संसारस्य चक्रम्)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वर्तमानः: existing; living; continuing
• वर्तमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वृत् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of 'bhavān')

• पुनर्भवः: rebirth; repeated becoming
• पुनर्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुनर्-भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (पुनः भवः)

• उपलब्धः: has been obtained; attained
• उपलब्धः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+√लभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थे (predicate: 'has been obtained/attained')

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; आदरार्थक-सर्वनाम

• अद्य: today; now
• अद्य: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-कालय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• दुर्लभम्: rare; hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्-लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of 'priya-darśanam')

• प्रियदर्शनम्: the sight of a dear one
• प्रियदर्शनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय-दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (प्रियस्य दर्शनम्)

Purport

Vasudeva had been imprisoned by Kaṁsa, and therefore, although present in Mathurā, he was unable to see Nanda Mahārāja for many years. Therefore when they met again, Vasudeva considered this meeting to be another birth.

Characters & Entities

• Nanda Maharaja
• Vasudeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about escaping the cycle of rebirth (punar-bhava)?

This verse highlights the soul’s condition within the saṁsāra-cakra (cycle of repeated birth) and implies that rare, dear association and darśana of saintly devotees is a great fortune that supports liberation and devotion.

Why did Vasudeva say this to Nanda Maharaja in Canto 10 Chapter 5?

Vasudeva, living under the oppressive situation in Mathurā, meets Nanda and expresses heartfelt gratitude that—even while bound in worldly struggle—he has the rare chance to see his beloved friend Nanda.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Value and seek uplifting association: meeting sincere devotees, elders, and spiritually minded friends is rare and transformative—treat such encounters as blessings rather than ordinary social contact.