Shloka 42

Arjuna Marries Subhadrā; Kṛṣṇa Honors Two Devotees in Mithilā (Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva)

Devanagari script

स तर्कयामास कुतो ममान्वभूत् गृहान्धकूपे पतितस्य सङ्गम: । य: सर्वतीर्थास्पदपादरेणुभि: कृष्णेन चास्यात्मनिकेतभूसुरै: ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

sa tarkayām āsa kuto mamānv abhūt gṛhāndha-kūpe patitasya saṅgamaḥ yaḥ sarva-tīrthāspada-pāda-reṇubhiḥ kṛṣṇena cāsyātma-niketa-bhūsuraiḥ

Translation

เขาครุ่นคิดว่า: เราผู้ตกอยู่ในบ่อมืดแห่งชีวิตครอบครัว เหตุใดจึงได้พบพระกฤษณะ? และเหตุใดจึงได้พบมหาพราหมณ์เหล่านี้ ผู้ทรงพระองค์ไว้ในดวงใจเสมอ ซึ่งธุลีจากบาทของท่านเป็นที่พึ่งของสรรพสถานศักดิ์สิทธิ์ทั้งปวง

Synonyms

सःhe

तर्कयामासhe reflected/considered

कुतःfrom where? how?

ममof me / my

अनुafter, following (as preverb)

अभूत्arose/occurred/happened

गृह-अन्ध-कूपेin the blind well of household life

पतितस्यof (one) fallen

सङ्गमःassociation/meeting

यःwhich/who

सर्व-तीर्थ-आस्पद-पाद-रेणुभिःby the dust of the feet (which are) the abode of all holy places

कृष्णेनby/with Krishna

चand

अस्यof him/this (Krishna)

आत्म-निकेत-भूसुरैःwith the brāhmaṇas who have Him as their abode

Characters & Entities

Krishna

Nanda Maharaja

Bhusuras (brahmanas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by 'gṛhāndha-kūpa' (blind well of household life)?

It describes becoming trapped in material attachment and narrow self-interest; the verse contrasts this with liberation through association with Kṛṣṇa and saintly brāhmaṇas.

Why does Nanda Maharaja marvel at his association with Krishna in Canto 10 Chapter 86?

Nanda feels unqualified due to household entanglement, yet he has received the rare mercy of Kṛṣṇa and His dear devotees, showing that grace—not status—brings divine association.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life for spiritual progress?

Cultivate humility, seek sādhus and genuine spiritual guidance, and center life around devotion to Kṛṣṇa—so family responsibilities become purified rather than binding.