Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 27
Rāsa-līlā Begins; Divine Multiplication; Moral Doubt and Its Resolution
श्रीपरीक्षिदुवाच संस्थापनाय धर्मस्य प्रशमायेतरस्य च । अवतीर्णो हि भगवानंशेन जगदीश्वर: ॥ २६ ॥ स कथं धर्मसेतूनां वक्ता कर्ताभिरक्षिता । प्रतीपमाचरद् ब्रह्मन् परदाराभिमर्शनम् ॥ २७ ॥
śrī-parīkṣid uvāca saṁsthāpanāya dharmasya praśamāyetarasya ca avatīrṇo hi bhagavān aṁśena jagad-īśvaraḥ
帕利克希特王说道：“婆罗门啊，为建立正法、平息非法，宇宙之主薄伽梵携其全分降临人间。他本是道德法则之宣说者、践行者与守护者；那么，婆罗门啊，他怎会作出违背正法之举，触及他人之妻呢？”
As Śukadeva Gosvāmī was speaking, King Parīkṣit noticed that some persons seated in the assembly on the bank of the Ganges were harboring doubt about the Lord’s activities. These doubtful persons were karmīs, jñānīs and others who were not devotees of the Lord. To clear up their doubts, King Parīkṣit asks this question on their behalf.
FAQs
Parīkṣit raises the doubt that the Lord establishes dharma, so His intimate dealings with others’ wives seem contrary; the narrative addresses this by distinguishing the Lord’s transcendental līlā from worldly morality and by clarifying His role as the ultimate protector of dharma.
Because Śukadeva was describing the Rāsa-līlā, and Parīkṣit—concerned for dharma—requested a clear reconciliation: how the Lord who sets religious boundaries could act in a way that appears opposed to them.
Do not imitate divine līlās or justify misconduct by quoting them; instead, seek proper understanding from scripture and saintly teachers, and follow dharma while cultivating pure devotion.