Shloka 28
Trivakrā’s Transformation and the Breaking of Kaṁsa’s Bow
Mathurā-līlā Prelude
अदर्शनं स्वशिरस: प्रतिरूपे च सत्यपि । असत्यपि द्वितीये च द्वैरूप्यं ज्योतिषां तथा ॥ २८ ॥ छिद्रप्रतीतिश्छायायां प्राणघोषानुपश्रुति: । स्वर्णप्रतीतिर्वृक्षेषु स्वपदानामदर्शनम् ॥ २९ ॥ स्वप्ने प्रेतपरिष्वङ्ग: खरयानं विषादनम् । यायान्नलदमाल्येकस्तैलाभ्यक्तो दिगम्बर: ॥ ३० ॥ अन्यानि चेत्थं भूतानि स्वप्नजागरितानि च । पश्यन् मरणसन्त्रस्तो निद्रां लेभे न चिन्तया ॥ ३१ ॥
adarśanaṁ sva-śirasaḥ pratirūpe ca saty api asaty api dvitīye ca dvai-rūpyaṁ jyotiṣāṁ tathā
Apabila memandang bayangannya, dia tidak melihat kepalanya; tanpa sebab bulan dan bintang kelihatan berganda. Dia melihat seolah-olah ada lubang pada bayangnya; tidak mendengar bunyi nafas kehidupan; pepohon tampak bersinar keemasan; dan jejak kakinya pun tidak kelihatan. Dalam mimpi dia dipeluk hantu, menunggang keldai dan meminum racun; serta melihat seorang lelaki telanjang disapu minyak, memakai kalung bunga nalada, lalu melintas. Melihat alamat-alamat buruk demikian ketika jaga dan mimpi, Kaṁsa gentar akan kematian dan kerana gelisah dia tidak dapat tidur.
FAQs
This verse explains that perception can be unreliable—one may not perceive what is present or may perceive what is absent—illustrating how illusion can distort experience.
He uses everyday perceptual errors to show that appearances can mislead, preparing the listener to understand deeper truths beyond surface perception.
Pause before reacting to appearances; verify with discernment and śāstra-guided understanding, especially when emotions or fear amplify misperception.