Shloka 1
The Brāhmaṇas’ Wives Blessed (Brāhmaṇa-patnī-prasāda) — Ritualism Humbled by Bhakti
श्रीगोपा ऊचु: राम राम महाबाहो कृष्ण दुष्टनिबर्हण । एषा वै बाधते क्षुन्नस्तच्छान्तिं कर्तुमर्हथ: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-gopa ūcuḥ rāma rāma mahā-bāho kṛṣṇa duṣṭa-nibarhaṇa eṣā vai bādhate kṣun nas tac-chāntiṁ kartum arhathaḥ
Budak-budak gembala berkata: “Wahai Rāma, Rāma, yang berlengan perkasa! Wahai Kṛṣṇa, penumpas yang jahat! Lapar ini mengganggu kami; mohon Engkau meredakannya.”
The cowherd boys jokingly implied that since Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the subduer of all bad things, the Lord should subdue their hunger by arranging for them to eat. In this statement by the cowherd boys, we observe the intimate loving friendship they enjoyed with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
In this verse the cowherd boys appeal to Balarama and Krishna, saying that hunger is afflicting them and requesting the two brothers to arrange relief—showing their natural dependence on the Lord in Vraja.
They remember Krishna’s power to subdue all troubles and threats in Vraja; by calling Him the chastiser of the wicked, they express faith that He can also remove their present distress—hunger.
Bring even ordinary needs to God with sincerity and trust—devotional life includes dependence on Krishna in daily circumstances, not only in extraordinary crises.