Shloka 40
श्रीभगवानुवाच ब्रह्मन् धर्मस्य वक्ताहं कर्ता तदनुमोदिता । तच्छिक्षयन् लोकमिममास्थित: पुत्र मा खिद: ॥ ४० ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca brahman dhannasya vaktāhaṁ kartā tad-anumoditā tac chikṣayan lokam imam āsthitaḥ putra mā khidaḥ
พระผู้เป็นเจ้าตรัสว่า—ดูก่อนพราหมณ์ เราเป็นผู้กล่าวธรรม เป็นผู้ปฏิบัติธรรม และเป็นผู้ทรงอนุมัติธรรมด้วย เพื่อสั่งสอนโลก เราจึงตั้งมั่นในหลักธรรม; ลูกเอ๋ย อย่าเศร้าใจเลย
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that Lord Kṛṣṇa wanted to dispel Nārada’s distress, which the sage felt because he saw Lord Kṛṣṇa worshiping the demigods and even Nārada himself. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feelings as follows: “As I state in the Bhagavad-gītā, yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ: [‘Whatever a great person does, ordinary people follow.’] Thus I bathed your feet today in order to help propagate the principles of religion. In the past, before I began My pastimes of directly teaching religious principles, you came and offered prayers to Me after I had killed the Keśī demon, but I simply listened to your elaborate prayers and glorification and did nothing to honor you. Just remember this and consider.
FAQs
This verse states that Kṛṣṇa is the proclaimer of dharma, the one who establishes it, and the one who sanctions it—showing dharma ultimately rests on Bhagavān’s will and example.
Kṛṣṇa explains that his actions are meant to instruct the world in dharma; therefore the listener should not lament, understanding the divine purpose behind his conduct.
Practice dharma not only as theory but as lived conduct, and face confusing situations with faith that righteous examples and higher purpose can guide society.