Shloka 46
Vasudeva and Devakī Glorify Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; The Recovery of Devakī’s Six Sons from Sutala
शाध्यस्मानीशितव्येश निष्पापान् कुरु न: प्रभो । पुमान् यच्छ्रद्धयातिष्ठंश्चोदनाया विमुच्यते ॥ ४६ ॥
śādhy asmān īśitavyeśa niṣpāpān kuru naḥ prabho pumān yac chraddhayātiṣṭhaṁś codanāyā vimucyate
അധീന ജീവികളുടെ അധിപനായ പ്രഭോ, ഞങ്ങൾ ചെയ്യേണ്ടത് ഉപദേശിച്ച് ഞങ്ങളെ പാപമുക്തരാക്കണമേ. സ്വാമീ, നിങ്ങളുടെ ആജ്ഞയെ ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുന്നവൻ സാധാരണ വൈദിക കർമ്മകാണ്ഡത്തിന്റെ ബാധ്യതയിൽ നിന്ന് മോചിതനാകുന്നു.
The ācāryas explain Bali’s thoughts as follows. Reflecting on the possibility that his request for immediate deliverance may have been too bold, Bali Mahārāja considers that first he will need to become sufficiently purified. In any case, he thinks, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma must have come to him for some specific purpose; if he can receive the Lords’ order and carry it out, that will be his best opportunity for purification. Indeed, as Bali states, a devotee acting under the Personality of Godhead’s instruction need no longer follow the sacrificial injunctions and prohibitions of the Vedas.
FAQs
This verse shows Vasudeva praying that Kṛṣṇa personally make them sinless; it also teaches that acting with faith in the Lord’s instruction purifies one and lifts one beyond mere rule-bound religiosity.
In this chapter, Kṛṣṇa is being honored and addressed by His elders; Vasudeva, feeling humility and seeking spiritual upliftment, prays for purification and for devotion that transcends mechanical adherence to injunctions.
Follow spiritual duties with sincere faith centered on God (not just social pressure), and pray for inner purification—letting devotion guide decisions rather than anxiety over countless external rules.