Devanagari
इत्थं परस्य निजवर्त्मरिरक्षयात्त-
लीलातनोस्तदनुरूपविडम्बनानि ।
कर्माणि कर्मकषणानि यदूत्तमस्य
श्रूयादमुष्य पदयोरनुवृत्तिमिच्छन् ॥ ४९ ॥
Verse text
itthaṁ parasya nija-vartma-rirakṣayātta-
līlā-tanos tad-anurūpa-viḍambanāni
karmāṇi karma-kaṣaṇāni yadūttamasya
śrūyād amuṣya padayor anuvṛttim icchan
Synonyms
ittham
—
(described) in this manner
;
parasya
—
of the Supreme
;
nija
—
His own
;
vartma
—
path (of devotional service)
;
rirakṣayā
—
with the desire of protecting
;
ātta
—
who has assumed
;
līlā
—
for pastimes
;
tanoḥ
—
various personal forms
;
tat
—
to each of these
;
anurūpa
—
suitable
;
viḍambanāni
—
imitating
;
karmāṇi
—
activities
;
karma
—
the reactions of material work
;
kaṣaṇāni
—
which destroy
;
yadu
—
uttamasya — of the best of the Yadus
;
śrūyāt
—
one should hear
;
amuṣya
—
His
;
padayoḥ
—
of the feet
;
anuvṛttim
—
the privilege of following
;
icchan
—
desiring .
Translation
To protect the principles of devotional service to Himself, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the best of the Yadus, accepts the pastime forms that have been glorified here in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. One who desires to faithfully serve His lotus feet should hear of the activities He performs in each of these incarnations — activities that suitably imitate those of the forms He assumes. Hearing narrations of these pastimes destroys the reactions to fruitive work.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
To protect the principles of devotional service to Himself, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the best of the Yadus, accepts the pastime forms that have been glorified here in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. One who desires to faithfully serve His lotus feet should hear of the activities He performs in each of these incarnations—activities that suitably imitate those of the forms He assumes. Hearing narrations of these pastimes destroys the reactions to fruitive work.
KB 10.90.49
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, the Supersoul of all living entities, out of His causeless mercy comes down and manifests His different transcendental pastimes in different incarnations. Hearing the attractive pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s different incarnations is a chance for liberation for the conditioned soul, and the most fascinating and pleasing activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself are still more attractive because Lord Kṛṣṇa personally is all-attractive.
Following in the holy footsteps of Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī, we have tried to present this book, Kṛṣṇa, for being read and heard by the conditioned souls of this age. By hearing the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa, one is sure and certain to get salvation and be transferred back home, back to Godhead. It is stated by Śukadeva Gosvāmī that as we hear the transcendental pastimes of the Lord, we gradually cut the knots of material contamination. Therefore, regardless of what one is, if one wants the association of Lord Kṛṣṇa in the transcendental kingdom of God for eternity in blissful existence, one must hear about the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa and chant the mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare / Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Having established the eternal nature of the pastimes of Krsna, hearing about them is now prescribed. One should hear the activities of Krsna who appeared with his form suitable for various pastimes with a desire to protect his own bhakti. These activities make the activities of other avataras insignificant, and destroy all karma.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
How does one attain devotion to this spiritual abode? What is said is not my opinion, but the descriptions of scripture concerning the Lord’s pastimes. Like other scriptures, they give results following the instructions given in them. But his abode can be attained simply by hearing. That is explained in this verse. Or, “Please describe the eternal associates situated in the Lord’s eternal abode.” Please hear the pastimes of the Lord with them. They are eternal. Then this verse is spoken.
As was previously said, one who desires to serve (anuvṛrtim) his feet should hear the activities of the Lord, who is beyond everyone’s vision, but by mercy manifests his own form suitable for pastimes with a desire to protect his bhakti (nija-dharma or vartma ). That Lord was the shelter (uttamasya) of the Yadus—the people of Vraja, Mathurā and Dvāraka--by performing eternal pastimes with them. The activities of the Lord are described. The activities were suitable to his form and appeared like other persons’ actions. Or, his activities made (viḍambanāni) the activities of other avatāras lesser in significance since they displayed unparalleled powers and sweetness.
bhūmeḥ suretara-varūtha-vimarditāyāḥ
kleśa-vyayāya kalayā sita-kṛṣṇa-keśaḥ
jātaḥ kariṣyati janānupalakṣya-mārgaḥ
karmāṇi cātma-mahimopanibandhanāni
Kṛṣṇa, with skillfully bound up hair, whose method of attainment is unknown to men, having made his appearance to relieve the earth of the suffering caused by the armies of demons, and to relieve the devotees of their pain of separation, will perform activities whose sweetness
will hide his powers. SB 2.7.26
These are like activities, but are a test for other activities, defeating the other activities of the universe.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
In the manner stated (ittham), desiring to protect bhakti, his dharma, the supreme Lord (parasya), the best of the Yadus, accepted various forms like Matsya and Kūṛma. One should hear the activities of this Lord, which follow after the forms, and destroy the bondage of karma. Or you, Parīkṣit should hear these activities. Or all people should hear the activities. Śukadeva speaks to everyone. In any case that is the conclusion. Desiring to be fixed at his lotus feet (anuvṛttim) one should hear these pastimes.