Shloka 19
Bhīṣmadeva’s Passing Away in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa
अस्यानुभावं भगवान् वेद गुह्यतमं शिव: । देवर्षिर्नारद: साक्षाद्भगवान् कपिलो नृप ॥ १९ ॥
asyānubhāvaṁ bhagavān veda guhyatamaṁ śivaḥ devarṣir nāradaḥ sākṣād bhagavān kapilo nṛpa
ข้าแต่มหาราช พระศิวะทรงรู้พระสิริรุ่งเรืองของพระองค์อย่างลึกเร้นยิ่ง; เทวฤๅษีนารท และพระกปิละผู้เป็นภควานก็รู้ด้วยการได้สัมผัสโดยตรง
Pure devotees of the Lord are all budhās, or persons who know the glories of the Lord in different transcendental loving services. As the Lord has innumerable expansions of His plenary form, there are innumerable pure devotees of the Lord, who are engaged in the exchange of service of different humors. Ordinarily there are twelve great devotees of the Lord, namely Brahmā, Nārada, Śiva, Kumāra, Kapila, Manu, Prahlāda, Bhīṣma, Janaka, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Bali Mahārāja and Yamarāja. Bhīṣmadeva, although one of them, has mentioned only three important names of the twelve who know the glories of the Lord. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, one of the great ācāryas in the modern age, explains that anubhāva, or the glory of the Lord, is first appreciated by the devotee in ecstasy manifesting the symptoms of perspiring, trembling, weeping, bodily eruptions, etc., which are further enhanced by steady understanding of the glories of the Lord. Such different understandings of bhāvas are exchanged between Yaśodā and the Lord (binding the Lord by ropes) and in the chariot-driving by the Lord in the exchange of love with Arjuna. These glories of the Lord are exhibited in His being subordinated before His devotees, and that is another feature of the glories of the Lord. Śukadeva Gosvāmī and the Kumāras, although situated in the transcendental position, became converted by another feature of bhāva and turned into pure devotees of the Lord. Tribulations imposed upon the devotees by the Lord constitute another exchange of transcendental bhāva between the Lord and the devotees. The Lord says, “I put My devotee into difficulty, and thus the devotee becomes more purified in exchanging transcendental bhāva with Me.” Placing the devotee into material troubles means delivering him from the illusory material relations. The material relations are based on reciprocation of material enjoyment, which depends mainly on material resources. Therefore, when material resources are withdrawn by the Lord, the devotee is cent-percent attracted toward the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Thus the Lord snatches the fallen soul from the mire of material existence. Tribulations offered by the Lord to His devotee are different from the tribulations resulting from vicious action. All these glories of the Lord are especially known to the great mahājanas like Brahmā, Śiva, Nārada, Kapila, Kumāra and Bhīṣma, as mentioned above, and one is able to grasp it by their grace.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord fully knows His own deepest mystery, and it is also known by exalted beings like Lord Śiva, Devarṣi Nārada, and the Lord’s own incarnation Kapila.
To show that the Lord’s true glory is not easily grasped; only the most elevated authorities—great devotees and the Lord Himself—can know this confidential reality.
Approach spiritual truth with humility, learn from authentic saintly authorities, and deepen bhakti through hearing and chanting, recognizing that God is ultimately understood by His mercy.