Shloka 33
Bhagavān’s Avatāras, Their Protections (Poṣaṇa), and the Limits of Knowing Him
क्रीडन् वने निशि निशाकररश्मिगौर्यां रासोन्मुख: कलपदायतमूर्च्छितेन । उद्दीपितस्मररुजां व्रजभृद्वधूनां हर्तुर्हरिष्यति शिरो धनदानुगस्य ॥ ३३ ॥
krīḍan vane niśi niśākara-raśmi-gauryāṁ rāsonmukhaḥ kala-padāyata-mūrcchitena uddīpita-smara-rujāṁ vraja-bhṛd-vadhūnāṁ hartur hariṣyati śiro dhanadānugasya
ചന്ദ്രരശ്മികളാൽ വെളുത്ത ആ രാത്രിയിൽ വനത്തിൽ രാസലീലക്ക് ഉത്സുകനായി, ഭഗവാൻ മധുരവും കോമളപദങ്ങളുമുള്ള ഗാനങ്ങളാൽ വ്രജവധുക്കളുടെ പ്രണയവേദനയെ കൂടുതൽ ഉദ്ദീപിപ്പിച്ചു. അപ്പോൾ കുബേരന്റെ അനുചരനായ ധനദാനുഗ ശങ്കചൂഡൻ എന്ന ദൈത്യൻ ഗോപികമാരെ അപഹരിച്ചു; ഭഗവാൻ അവന്റെ ശിരസ് ദേഹത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വേർപ്പെടുത്തി.
We should carefully note that the statements described herein are the statements of Brahmājī to Nārada, and he was speaking to Nārada of events that would happen in the future, during the advent of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The pastimes of the Lord are known to the experts who are able to see past, present and future, and Brahmājī, being one of them, foretold what would happen in the future. The killing of Śaṅkhacūḍa by the Lord is a more recent incident, after the rāsa-līlā, and not exactly a simultaneous affair. In the previous verses we have seen also that the Lord’s engagement in the affairs of the forest fire was described along with His pastimes of punishing the Kāliya snake, and similarly the pastimes of the rāsa dance and the killing of Śaṅkhacūḍa are also described herein. The adjustment is that all these incidents would take place in the future, after the time when it was being foretold by Brahmājī to Nārada. The demon Śaṅkhacūḍa was killed by the Lord during His pastimes at Horikā in the month of Phālguna, and the same ceremony is still observed in India by the burning of the effigy of Śaṅkhacūḍa one day prior to the Lord’s pastimes at Horikā, generally known as Holi.
FAQs
This verse says Krishna, ready for the rāsa-dance in the moonlit forest, plays a sweet, captivating flute-melody that intensifies the gopīs’ love-longing, showing how His divine music awakens ecstatic devotion.
Alongside the rāsa setting, the verse alludes to Krishna’s protection of dharma: He will behead the servant of Dhanada (Kuvera)—identified in later narratives as Śaṅkhacūḍa—who became an offender, demonstrating the Lord’s role as both enchanting lover of Vraja and punisher of wrongdoing.
Remembering Krishna’s līlā—especially His flute that draws the heart toward Him—encourages devotees to replace restless desire with focused devotion through śravaṇa (hearing), kīrtana (chanting), and meditation on the Lord’s names and pastimes.