Shloka 24
Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water
तस्मात् कृतनराहाराद् भीतैर्नृभिरमित्रहन् । न सेव्यते पशुगणै: पक्षिसङ्घैर्विवर्जितम् ॥ २४ ॥
tasmāt kṛta-narāhārād bhītair nṛbhir amitra-han na sevyate paśu-gaṇaiḥ pakṣi-saṅghair vivarjitam
เพราะอสูรเธนุกะเคยกินมนุษย์ ผู้คนและสัตว์ทั้งหลายจึงหวาดกลัวไม่กล้าไปยังป่าตาลา โอผู้ปราบศัตรู แม้ฝูงนกก็ยังหลีกเลี่ยงป่านั้น
The cowherd boyfriends of Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Balarāma encouraged the two brothers to go at once to the Tāla forest and kill the ass demon. Indeed, here they address the brothers as amitra-han, “killer of the enemy.” The cowherd boys were engaged in ecstatic meditation upon the potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and reasoned thus: “Kṛṣṇa has already killed terrible demons like Baka and Agha, so what is so special about this obnoxious jackass named Dhenuka, who has become public enemy number one in Vṛndāvana?”
FAQs
This verse explains that a demon-infested region becomes so fearful that even animals and birds avoid it, highlighting the oppressive effect of adharma until Kṛṣṇa intervenes.
He addresses Kṛṣṇa as the destroyer of hostile forces to emphasize that removing such threats is natural to Him, setting the mood for Kṛṣṇa’s protection of Vraja.
Avoid environments that normalize harm and fear, and seek the shelter of sāttvika company and devotion—where protection, clarity, and courage naturally arise.