Shloka 6
The Freed Kings Glorify Kṛṣṇa; Instruction on Kingship, Detachment, and Remembrance
श्रीशुक उवाच अयुते द्वे शतान्यष्टौ निरुद्धा युधि निर्जिता: । ते निर्गता गिरिद्रोण्यां मलिना मलवासस: ॥ १ ॥ क्षुत्क्षामा: शुष्कवदना: संरोधपरिकर्शिता: । ददृशुस्ते घनश्यामं पीतकौशेयवाससम् ॥ २ ॥ श्रीवत्साङ्कं चतुर्बाहुं पद्मगर्भारुणेक्षणम् । चारुप्रसन्नवदनं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् ॥ ३ ॥ पद्महस्तं गदाशङ्ख रथाङ्गैरुपलक्षितम् । किरीटहारकटककटिसूत्राङ्गदाञ्चितम् ॥ ४ ॥ भ्राजद्वरमणिग्रीवं निवीतं वनमालया । पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां लिहन्त इव जिह्वया ॥ ५ ॥ जिघ्रन्त इव नासाभ्यां रम्भन्त इव बाहुभि: । प्रणेमुर्हतपाप्मानो मूर्धभि: पादयोर्हरे: ॥ ६ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca ayute dve śatāny aṣṭau niruddhā yudhi nirjitāḥ te nirgatā giridroṇyāṁ malinā mala-vāsasaḥ
ശ്രീശുകദേവ ഗോസ്വാമി പറഞ്ഞു—ജരാസന്ധൻ യുദ്ധത്തിൽ 20,800 രാജാക്കളെ ജയിച്ച് ഗിരിദ്രോണീ കോട്ടയിലെ തടവിൽ അടച്ചു. അവർ പുറത്തുവന്നപ്പോൾ മലിനരും ചീത്ത വസ്ത്രധാരികളും ആയിരുന്നു; വിശപ്പാൽ ക്ഷീണിച്ച് മുഖങ്ങൾ ഉണങ്ങി, ദീർഘ തടവാൽ അത്യന്തം ദുർബലരായി. അപ്പോൾ അവർ ഘനശ്യാമൻ, പീതകൗശേയവസ്ത്രധാരി, ശ്രീവത്സചിഹ്നിതൻ, ചതുര്ഭുജൻ, പദ്മനേത്രൻ, പ്രസന്നമുഖൻ ആയ ശ്രീഹരിയെ കണ്ടു; കണ്ണുകളാൽ കുടിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ, നാവാൽ രുചിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ, മൂക്കാൽ മണക്കുന്നതുപോലെ, ഭുജങ്ങളാൽ ആലിംഗനം ചെയ്യുന്നതുപോലെ അനുഭവിച്ച്, പാപം നീങ്ങിയവരായി അവന്റെ പാദങ്ങളിൽ തലവെച്ച് പ്രണാമം ചെയ്തു.
The kings then beheld the Lord before them. His complexion was dark blue like the color of a cloud, and He wore a yellow silk garment. He was distinguished by the Śrīvatsa mark on His chest, His four mighty arms, the pinkish hue of His eyes, which resembled the whorl of a lotus, His lovely, cheerful face, His gleaming makara earrings and the lotus, club, conchshell and disc in His hands. A helmet, a jeweled necklace, a golden belt, and golden bracelets and armlets decorated His form, and on His neck He wore both the brilliant, precious Kaustubha gem and a garland of forest flowers. The kings seemed to drink His beauty with their eyes, lick Him with their tongues, relish His fragrance with their nostrils and embrace Him with their arms. Their past sins now eradicated, the kings all bowed down to Lord Hari, placing their heads at His feet.
FAQs
These verses show that the imprisoned kings, upon beholding Hari’s divine form, became “hata-pāpmānaḥ” (their sins destroyed) and naturally bowed at His feet—indicating the purifying power of the Lord’s darśana when met with devotion and surrender.
They are the princes captured after being defeated in battle and kept confined (saṁrodha). Having endured hunger and harsh imprisonment, they emerge from the mountain cavern and are liberated by encountering Lord Kṛṣṇa (Hari).
Practice focused remembrance through hearing and chanting (śravaṇa-kīrtana), contemplate the Lord’s form and qualities described in scripture, and express humility through prayer and service—so the mind learns to “drink” the Lord’s presence with full attention.