Devanagari
श्रीकृष्ण वृष्णिकुलपुष्करजोषदायिन्
क्ष्मानिर्जरद्विजपशूदधिवृद्धिकारिन् ।
उद्धर्मशार्वरहर क्षितिराक्षसध्रु-
गाकल्पमार्कमर्हन् भगवन्नमस्ते ॥ ४० ॥
Verse text
śrī-kṛṣṇa vṛṣṇi-kula-puṣkara-joṣa-dāyin
kṣmā-nirjara-dvija-paśūdadhi-vṛddhi-kārin
uddharma-śārvara-hara kṣiti-rākṣasa-dhrug
ā-kalpam ārkam arhan bhagavan namas te
Synonyms
śrī
—
kṛṣṇa — O Lord Kṛṣṇa
;
vṛṣṇi
—
kula — of the Yadu dynasty
;
puṣkara
—
to the lotus
;
joṣa
—
pleasure
;
dāyin
—
O You who bestow
;
kṣmā
—
of the earth
;
nirjara
—
the demigods
;
dvija
—
the brāhmaṇas
;
paśu
—
and of the animals
;
udadhi
—
of the great oceans
;
vṛddhi
—
the increase
;
kārin
—
O You who cause
;
uddharma
—
of atheistic principles
;
śārvara
—
of the darkness
;
hara
—
O dispeller
;
kṣiti
—
upon the earth
;
rākṣasa
—
of the demons
;
dhruk
—
the opponent
;
ā
—
kalpam — until the end of the universe
;
ā
—
arkam — as long as the sun shines
;
arhan
—
O supremely worshipable Deity
;
bhagavan
—
O Supreme Personality of Godhead
;
namaḥ
—
I offer my respectful obeisances
;
te
—
unto You .
Translation
My dear Śrī Kṛṣṇa, You bestow happiness upon the lotuslike Vṛṣṇi dynasty and expand the great oceans consisting of the earth, the demigods, the brāhmaṇas and the cows. You dispel the dense darkness of irreligion and oppose the demons who have appeared on this earth. O Supreme Personality of Godhead, as long as this universe exists and as long as the sun shines, I will offer my obeisances unto You.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
My dear Śrī Kṛṣṇa, You bestow happiness upon the lotuslike Vṛṣṇi dynasty and expand the great oceans consisting of the earth, the demigods, the brāhmaṇas and the cows. You dispel the dense darkness of irreligion and oppose the demons who have appeared on this earth. O Supreme Personality of Godhead, as long as this universe exists and as long as the sun shines, I will offer my obeisances unto You.
KB 10.14.40
“My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, Your very name suggests that You are all-attractive. The attraction of the sun and the moon are all due to You. By the attraction of the sun, You are beautifying the very existence of the Yadu dynasty. With the attraction of the moon, You are enhancing the potency of the land, the demigods, the brāhmaṇas, the cows and the oceans. Because of Your supreme attraction, demons like Kaṁsa and others are annihilated. Therefore it is my deliberate conclusion that You are the only worshipable Deity within the creation. Accept my humble obeisances until the annihilation of this material world. As long as there is sunshine within this material world, kindly accept my humble obeisances.”
Purport
According to Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, Lord Brahmā is here engaged in the ecstasy of
nāma-saṅkīrtana,
glorifying various holy names of Lord Kṛṣṇa that indicate His variegated pastimes. Lord Kṛṣṇa expertly suppressed the demoniac population of the earth, which became unbearable with the advent of demoniac politicians like Kaṁsa, Jarāsandha and Śiśupāla. Similarly, in modern society there are many so-called God-fearing people who are actually attracted to demoniac existence. Such persons become enlivened with the setting of the sun and go out in the darkness to enjoy life in restaurants, nightclubs, discotheques, hotels and so on, which are all simply meant for illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating. Then there are those who openly defy God and His laws, declaring themselves atheists and demons. Both the covert and the overt enemies of the Lord constitute an unholy burden for the earth, and Lord Kṛṣṇa descends to expertly remove this burden.
Here Lord Brahmā indirectly states that Lord Kṛṣṇa should remove Brahmā’s own subtle atheism, which had led him to try to exert illusory power over Lord Kṛṣṇa. According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Lord Brahmā, in his shame, felt himself to be like a
brahma-rākṣasa
from Satyaloka who had come to the earth to disturb Lord Kṛṣṇa and His intimate friends and calves. Brahmā is lamenting that although Lord Kṛṣṇa is most exalted, the Lord of all lords, because He had appeared before Brahmā in such a simple and innocent feature — decorated with a stick, a conchshell, ornaments, red clay, a peacock feather and so on, and sporting with His cowherd boyfriends — Brahmā dared to challenge Him. Concerning Brahmā’s prayers, of which this verse is the conclusion, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura states, “May these prayers of Brahmā, which take away all doubts and broadcast all the definitive conclusions of devotional service, become the expert craftsmanship of the foundation of my consciousness.”
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
"If you don’t want to speak to me because I am an offender, then at least show mercy by giving the nectar of your glance. By this meal I will be able to maintain my life for the rest of the kalpa." Expressing this feeling, Brahma offered his respects to Krsna. "You are the sun (glance with the right eye) who makes the lotuses of the Vrsni dynasty bloom (joyful) . I am the offspring of a lotus. Therefore you should show mercy and make me blossom also. You are the moon (glance with the left eye) (increaser of the ocean) , for all the inhabitants of earth, for the devas (nirjara) , birds (dvija) and cows of Vrndavana , giving them nourishment. Be merciful to me the lowest of the devas, and nourish me as well. You are the destroyer of dense darkness (sarvara hara) in the form of atheism (uddharma) (glance with both eyes), and take away the atheism in me which took the form of trying to spread illusion to you, my master, so that I will not make such mistakes again."
"Though you killed the demons on this earth (ksiti raksasa druk), you blessed them by having them enter your body. You should then purify me also with that punishment since I am a brahma raksasa, having done away with your calves and cowherd boy friends. (The servant can live happily upon seeing either the mercy or curse of his master, but cannot live at all seeing his master disinterested. If you do not give mercy then at least curse me. ) I should satisfy Krsna whom previously I thought was acting improperly as God for happily playing with the cowherd boys with decoration of gunja seeds, clay, peacock feather and cane. I pay obeisances to you decorated (akalpam), with gunja beads and wearing arka flowers of Vrndavana, which are normally forbidden for worship. I pay obeisances to you who are worthy of my worship (arham), or are worthy to bestow mercy or withdraw it from me."
May these prayers of lord Brahma which are capable of destroying all the influence of the material world, which are the ocean of all conclusions about devotion, remain impressed upon my heart.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
In order to offer respects with realization of his powers and with reverence, Brahmā first calls out using the name of the Lord’s svarūpa. Then he calls out names depicting his birth and activities, revealing external particulars. Vṛṣṇi-kula refers to Vasudeva’s family and Nanda’s family, as was proved earlier. According to usage in the text the term primarily refers to Nanda’s family. Brahmā referred to Kṛṣṇa as paśupāṅgajāya (son of the cowherd) in verse 1. Though the word “earth” is not modified, the intention is link it with cows and brāhmaṇas since it is well known that the Lord appears on earth to benefit the cows and brāhmaṇas. Uddharma means dharma which opposes the Lord. The Rākṣasas such as Kaṁsa are the promoters of uddharma. Metaphors of the moon (cause of increasing the ocean) and sun (nourisher of the lotus) are given to suggest that the Lord produces all auspiciousness, and to suggest his glorification with great fame and power. O Lord, as Kṛṣṇa you are Svayam Bhagavān! You are worthy of worship (arha) from the sun which reveals bhūr, bhuva and svaḥ planets up to Mahāvaikuṇṭha (ārkam). Or you alone can show (arhan) what I saw and no one else. You are able to do everything. You are worthy of worship spreading over a kalpa, my lifetime. Or ākalpam can refer to the ornaments of Kṛṣṇa, such as his guñja garlands, peacock feather and yogurt rice in his left hand. Ārkam can refer to flowers of the arka tree which should not be offered to the Lord. I offer respects to you along with your ornaments and even to the flower of the arka tree, which is generally not respectable.
Because of the mercy of people who received the mercy of Caitanya, I have explained according to my inclination the prayers of Brahmā for their bliss.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
O Kṛṣṇa endowed with various splendors in all matters (śrī-kṛṣṇa)! Endowed with śrī, he attracts everyone’s hearts. He is excellent in all ways completely. This is clarified with the other terms addressing Kṛṣṇa. The reasons for all this is that he is bhagavān, who displays all powers.
Or Brahmā praises in the form of saṅkīrana of the Lord’s names, after having developed the highest bhakti, summarizing in one verse the purpose of all the avatāras, and offers respect at the Lord’s lotus feet. By his appearance the Lord destroyed the grief of Vasudeva and the Yadus and gave them bliss, like the lotus giving up being closed in darkness and blossoming with the rising of the sun. This was described previously. Sa bibhrat pauruṣaṁ dhāma: He manifested the effulgence of the Lord and became as bright as the sun. (SB 10.2.17) diṣṭyā hare syā bhavataḥ pado bhuvaḥ: the heavy burden of the demons upon this earth which arises from your feet is immediately removed by your appearance (10.2.38)
He caused increase in the earth, devatās, and the ocean of cows in Vraja. By destroying adharama and increasing dharma he eradicated suffering and produced bliss. Even though by increase in the earth automatically there is increase in the brāhmaṇas and cows on the earth, they are individually listed to show the special increase when Kṛṣṇa appears. Or it can indicate the increase among the sages of Maharloka and the people of Gokula within Goloka. Or this refers particularly to the increase in Vraja, since his appearance made the earth, waterfalls, bṛahmanas, birds, cows and buffalos prosper to the highest degree. At the end Brahmā describes the goal, spreading prema-bhakti.
The Lord takes away the darkness of processes contrary to bhakti (uddharma-śārvara-hara).
O destroyer of demons on the earth! These are of two types: persons with deep demonic nature opposing bhakti which is the life all people, who wander about in the darkness of the material world; and the enemies of the Vṛṣṇis like Kaṁṣa. The Lord counteracts some by punishing their pride and others by killing them. This is for their benefit. O most merciful Lord (bhagavān)! You encourage the devotees with bhakti. You can do this and no one else can (arhan). Or O lord who can do anything!
For my lifespan (ākalpam) I offer respects to you. Or I offer respects to you and all your decorations like guñja necklaces, earrings, peacock feather and rice in your left hand. I offer respects even to the arka flower, which is not respectable. I offer respects to you, Kṛṣṇa, endowed with all powers, the son of Nanda, full of the highest bliss.
Because of the mercy of people who received the mercy of Caitanya, I have explained according to my inclination the prayers of Brahmā for their bliss.