Shloka 67
Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear
मातरं पितरं भ्रातृन् सर्वांश्च सुहृदस्तथा । घ्नन्ति ह्यसुतृपो लुब्धा राजान: प्रायशो भुवि ॥ ६७ ॥
mātaraṁ pitaraṁ bhrātṝn sarvāṁś ca suhṛdas tathā ghnanti hy asutṛpo lubdhā rājānaḥ prāyaśo bhuvi
กษัตริย์ผู้โลภในกามสุขบนโลกนี้มักจะสังหารศัตรูอย่างไม่เลือกหน้า เพื่อสนองความต้องการของตนเอง พวกเขาสามารถฆ่าใครก็ได้ แม้แต่บิดา มารดา พี่น้อง หรือมิตรสหายของตน
We have seen in the history of India that Aurangzeb killed his brother and nephews and imprisoned his father to fulfill political ambitions. There have been many similar instances, and Kaṁsa was the same type of king. Kaṁsa did not hesitate to kill his nephews and imprison his sister and his father. For demons to do such things is not astonishing. Nonetheless, although Kaṁsa was a demon, he was aware that Lord Viṣṇu cannot be killed, and thus he attained salvation. Even partial understanding of the activities of Lord Viṣṇu makes one eligible for salvation. Kaṁsa knew a little about Kṛṣṇa — that He could not be killed — and therefore he attained salvation although he thought of Viṣṇu, Kṛṣṇa, as an enemy. What then is to be said of one who knows Kṛṣṇa perfectly from the descriptions of śāstras like Bhagavad-gītā ? It is therefore the duty of everyone to read Bhagavad-gītā and understand Kṛṣṇa perfectly. This will make one’s life successful.
FAQs
This verse describes a key Kali-yuga symptom: insatiable, greedy rulers become so power-driven that they may even harm or kill close family and well-wishers, showing the collapse of dharma.
He is setting the moral and historical backdrop for Krishna’s advent—when adharma and tyranny spread, society becomes unsafe even within families, and the Lord’s appearance becomes especially meaningful.
Guard against greed and unchecked ambition; choose leaders and personal goals grounded in ethics, gratitude, and protection of relationships, since desire without restraint destroys trust and family harmony.