Shloka 34
Kuntī’s Prayers and the Neutralization of the Brahmāstra
Uttarā Protected; Yudhiṣṭhira’s Grief Begins
भारावतारणायान्ये भुवो नाव इवोदधौ । सीदन्त्या भूरिभारेण जातो ह्यात्मभुवार्थित: ॥ ३४ ॥
bhārāvatāraṇāyānye bhuvo nāva ivodadhau sīdantyā bhūri-bhāreṇa jāto hy ātma-bhuvārthitaḥ
മറ്റുചിലർ പറയുന്നു—അധികഭാരത്തിൽ കുഴഞ്ഞ ഭൂമി സമുദ്രത്തിൽ മുങ്ങുന്ന നാവുപോലെ ദുഃഖിച്ചു. അപ്പോൾ നിന്റെ പുത്രനായ ആത്മഭൂ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് അപേക്ഷിച്ചതിനാൽ, ആ ഭാരമിറക്കി ലോകക്ലേശം കുറയ്ക്കാൻ നീ അവതരിച്ചു.
Brahmā, or the first living being born just after the creation, is the direct son of Nārāyaṇa. Nārāyaṇa, as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, first of all entered the material universe. Without spiritual contact, matter cannot create. This principle was followed from the very beginning of the creation. The Supreme Spirit entered the universe, and the first living being, Brahmā, was born on a lotus flower grown out of the transcendental abdomen of Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu is therefore known as Padmanābha. Brahmā is known as ātma-bhū because he was begotten directly from the father without any contact of mother Lakṣmījī. Lakṣmījī was present near Nārāyaṇa, engaged in the service of the Lord, and still, without contact with Lakṣmījī, Nārāyaṇa begot Brahmā. That is the omnipotency of the Lord. One who foolishly considers Nārāyaṇa like other living beings should take a lesson from this. Nārāyaṇa is not an ordinary living being. He is the Personality of Godhead Himself, and He has all the potencies of all the senses in all parts of His transcendental body. An ordinary living being begets a child by sexual intercourse, and he has no other means to beget a child other than the one designed for him. But Nārāyaṇa, being omnipotent, is not bound to any condition of energy. He is complete and independent to do anything and everything by His various potencies, very easily and perfectly. Brahmā is therefore directly the son of the father and was not put into the womb of a mother. Therefore he is known as ātma-bhū. This Brahmā is in charge of further creations in the universe, secondarily reflected by the potency of the Omnipotent. Within the halo of the universe there is a transcendental planet known as Śvetadvīpa, which is the abode of the Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, the Paramātmā feature of the Supreme Lord. Whenever there is trouble in the universe that cannot be solved by the administrative demigods, they approach Brahmājī for a solution, and if it is not to be solved even by Brahmājī, then Brahmājī consults and prays to the Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu for an incarnation and solution to the problems. Such a problem arose when Kaṁsa and others were ruling over the earth and the earth became too much overburdened by the misdeeds of the asuras. Brahmājī, along with other demigods, prayed at the shore of the Kṣīrodaka Ocean, and they were advised of the descent of Kṛṣṇa as the son of Vasudeva and Devakī. So some people say that the Lord appeared because of the prayers of Brahmājī.
FAQs
This verse says that Krishna’s descent is understood by some as the Lord’s mission to relieve the earth, which was overwhelmed by the weight of adharma, and to rescue the world like a boat saving one who is sinking.
Kunti recalls that Krishna’s appearance was connected with Brahmā’s request—highlighting that the Lord responds to the prayers of the devas and the cosmic need for restoring dharma.
When life feels overwhelming, this verse teaches that divine shelter is rescuing and steady—taking refuge in Krishna through prayer, remembrance, and dharmic living helps one cross the ‘ocean’ of difficulties.