Shloka 17
Kṛṣṇa’s Arrival at Dvārakā
Dvārakā-praveśa and Bhakta-vātsalya
निशम्य प्रेष्ठमायान्तं वसुदेवो महामना: । अक्रूरश्चोग्रसेनश्च रामश्चाद्भुतविक्रम: ॥ १६ ॥ प्रद्युम्नश्चारुदेष्णश्च साम्बो जाम्बवतीसुत: । प्रहर्षवेगोच्छशितशयनासनभोजना: ॥ १७ ॥
niśamya preṣṭham āyāntaṁ vasudevo mahā-manāḥ akrūraś cograsenaś ca rāmaś cādbhuta-vikramaḥ
மிகப் பிரியமான ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணன் த்வாரகா-தாமத்துக்கு வருகிறார் என்று கேட்டவுடன், பெருந்தன்மை கொண்ட வசுதேவர், அக்ரூரர், உக்ரசேனர், அதிசயப் பராக்கிரமம் உடைய பலராமர், பிரத்யும்னர், சாருதேஷ்ணர், ஜாம்பவதியின் புதல்வன் சாம்பன்—அனைவரும் பேரானந்த வேகத்தில் ஓய்வு, அமர்வு, உணவு ஆகியவற்றை விட்டெழுந்தனர்.
Vasudeva: Son of King Śūrasena, husband of Devakī and father of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He is the brother of Kuntī and father of Subhadrā. Subhadrā was married with her cousin Arjuna, and this system is still prevalent in some parts of India. Vasudeva was appointed minister of Ugrasena, and later on he married eight daughters of Ugrasena’s brother Devaka. Devakī is only one of them. Kaṁsa was his brother-in-law, and Vasudeva accepted voluntary imprisonment by Kaṁsa on mutual agreement to deliver the eighth son of Devakī. This was foiled by the will of Kṛṣṇa. As maternal uncle of the Pāṇḍavas, he took active parts in the purificatory process of the Pāṇḍavas. He sent for the priest Kaśyapa at Śataśṛṅga Parvata, and he executed the functions. When Kṛṣṇa appeared within the bars of Kaṁsa’s prison house, He was transferred by Vasudeva to the house of Nanda Mahārāja, the foster father of Kṛṣṇa, at Gokula. Kṛṣṇa disappeared along with Baladeva prior to the disappearance of Vasudeva, and Arjuna (Vasudeva’s nephew) undertook the charge of the funeral ceremony after Vasudeva’s disappearance.
FAQs
This verse shows the Lord’s dearest devotees immediately coming forward—hearing He is near—illustrating prompt, affectionate reception as a natural expression of bhakti.
They represent Krishna’s intimate family and royal associates in Dvārakā who lead the city in welcoming Him, emphasizing both loving relationship and righteous kingship around the Lord.
When spiritual opportunity approaches (kīrtana, darśana, service), respond quickly and wholeheartedly—like the devotees who did not delay when they heard Krishna was coming.