Shloka 5
Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water
श्रीभगवानुवाच अहो अमी देववरामरार्चितं पादाम्बुजं ते सुमन:फलार्हणम् । नमन्त्युपादाय शिखाभिरात्मन- स्तमोऽपहत्यै तरुजन्म यत्कृतम् ॥ ५ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca aho amī deva-varāmarārcitaṁ pādāmbujaṁ te sumanaḥ-phalārhaṇam namanty upādāya śikhābhir ātmanas tamo-’pahatyai taru-janma yat-kṛtam
Sri Bhagavan bersabda: “Wahai yang termulia antara para penguasa! Lihatlah, pepohon ini menundukkan kepala pada padma-pada tuan yang dipuja para dewa abadi, sambil mempersembahkan bunga dan buah. Mereka ingin menghapus kegelapan kejahilan yang menyebabkan kelahiran mereka sebagai pokok.”
The trees of Vṛndāvana were thinking that because of past offenses they had now taken birth as trees and, being immovable, could not accompany Lord Kṛṣṇa in His wanderings throughout the Vṛndāvana area. In fact, all the creatures of Vṛndāvana, including the trees and cows, were great souls who could personally associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But because of ecstatic sentiments of separation, the trees considered themselves in ignorance and thus tried to purify themselves by bowing down at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. Lord Kṛṣṇa understanding their mentality, simultaneously glanced at them with affection and praised their devotional service before His older brother, Balarāma.
FAQs
It says the trees bow down and offer flowers and fruits as worship to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, showing that even nature in Vṛndāvana serves the Lord in devotion.
Kṛṣṇa points to a spiritual meaning: by serving and honoring the Lord (even through their natural offerings), the trees exemplify how devotion dispels ignorance and spiritual darkness.
Offer what you have with sincerity—your work, resources, or simple acts like offering food/flowers in devotion—because heartfelt service to God is what removes inner darkness.