Shloka 30
Kuntī’s Prayers and the Neutralization of the Brahmāstra
Uttarā Protected; Yudhiṣṭhira’s Grief Begins
जन्म कर्म च विश्वात्मन्नजस्याकर्तुरात्मन: । तिर्यङ्नृषिषु याद:सु तदत्यन्तविडम्बनम् ॥ ३० ॥
janma karma ca viśvātmann ajasyākartur ātmanaḥ tiryaṅ-nṝṣiṣu yādaḥsu tad atyanta-viḍambanam
ข้าแต่ดวงวิญญาณแห่งจักรวาล น่าพิศวงยิ่งที่พระองค์ทรงกระทำกิจทั้งที่ทรงไม่กระทำ และทรงประสูติทั้งที่ทรงไม่เกิด พระองค์เสด็จลงเองท่ามกลางสัตว์ มนุษย์ ฤๅษี และสัตว์น้ำ; แท้จริงเป็นความพิศวงยิ่ง
The transcendental pastimes of the Lord are not only bewildering but also apparently contradictory. In other words, they are all inconceivable to the limited thinking power of the human being. The Lord is the all-prevailing Supersoul of all existence, and yet He appears in the form of a boar amongst the animals, in the form of a human being as Rāma, Kṛṣṇa, etc., in the form of a ṛṣi like Nārāyaṇa, and in the form of an aquatic like a fish. Yet it is said that He is unborn, and He has nothing to do. In the śruti mantra it is said that the Supreme Brahman has nothing to do. No one is equal to or greater than Him. He has manifold energies, and everything is performed by Him perfectly by automatic knowledge, strength and activity. All these statements prove without any question that the Lord’s activities, forms and deeds are all inconceivable to our limited thinking power, and because He is inconceivably powerful, everything is possible in Him. Therefore no one can calculate Him exactly; every action of the Lord is bewildering to the common man. He cannot be understood by the Vedic knowledge, but He can be easily understood by the pure devotees because they are intimately related with Him. The devotees therefore know that although He appears amongst the animals, He is not an animal, nor a man, nor a ṛṣi, nor a fish. He is eternally the Supreme Lord, in all circumstances.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord is inherently unborn (ajasya) and actionless (akartuḥ), yet He manifests birth and activities in various species as His astonishing divine play (līlā).
While offering prayers to Kṛṣṇa after Parīkṣit was saved, Kuntī highlights the Lord’s inconceivable nature: though transcendental to material laws, He voluntarily appears within them to protect and bless devotees.
It teaches humility and trust: the Divine is not limited by ordinary logic, so one can face uncertainty by remembering God’s higher purpose and seeking refuge through devotion rather than anxiety.