Chapter 50 · Class prep

BG 50.1

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When Kaṁsa was killed, O heroic descendant of Bharata, his two queens, Asti and Prāpti, went to their father’s house in great distress.

Essence. When Kaṁsa is killed, his queens Asti and Prāpti return to their father's house in distress. Family grief accompanies political revolution; the women of a tyrant's household pay an unchosen price.

BG 50.2

The sorrowful queens told their father, King Jarāsandha of Magadha, all about how they had become widows.

Essence. The sorrowful queens tell their father, Jarāsandha of Magadha, how they became widows. Reporting trauma to fathers or elders is a step in the grief process; the news travels upward.

BG 50.3

Hearing this odious news, O King, Jarāsandha was filled with sorrow and anger, and he began the greatest possible endeavor to rid the earth of the Yādavas.

Essence. Hearing this odious news, Jarāsandha is filled with sorrow and anger and begins the greatest endeavor to rid the earth of the Yādavas. Personal grievance becomes large-scale war; tyranny escalates instinctively.

BG 50.4

With a force of twenty-three akṣauhiṇī divisions, he laid siege to the Yadu capital, Mathurā, on all sides.

Essence. With twenty-three akṣauhiṇī divisions, he lays siege to Mathurā on all sides. The opponent of the Lord pours overwhelming resources at the problem; he cannot imagine being outclassed.

BG 50.5-6

Although Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the original cause of this world, when He descended to the earth He played the role of a human being. Thus when He saw Jarāsandha’s assembled army surrounding His city like a great ocean overflowing its shores, and when He saw how this army was striking fear into His subjects, the Lord considered what His suitable response should be according to the time, place and specific purpose of His current incarnation.

Essence. Though the original cause of the world, the Lord plays the human role; seeing Jarāsandha's army surround the city like an overflowing ocean, He thinks the situation through. Even the omniscient Lord 'thinks' — He doesn't dispense with deliberation.

BG 50.7-8

[The Supreme Lord thought:] Since it is such a burden on the earth, I will destroy Jarāsandha’s army, consisting of akṣauhiṇīs of foot soldiers, horses, chariots and elephants, which the King of Magadha has assembled from all subservient kings and brought together here. But Jarāsandha himself should not be killed, since in the future he will certainly assemble another army.

Essence. Since it is a burden, I will destroy Jarāsandha's army — foot soldiers, horses, chariots, elephants drawn from all subservient kings. The Lord plans destruction with detailed inventory; serious work requires specific lists.

BG 50.9

This is the purpose of My present incarnation — to relieve the earth of its burden, protect the pious and kill the impious.

Essence. This is My present incarnation's purpose: relieve the earth of burden, protect the pious, kill the impious. The Lord states the job description; mission clarity steadies action.

BG 50.10

I also assume other bodies to protect religion and to end irreligion whenever it flourishes in the course of time.

Essence. I also assume other bodies to protect religion and end irreligion whenever it flourishes in time. The Lord's interventions are recurring, not one-off; expect more, not fewer.

BG 50.11

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] As Lord Govinda was thinking in this way, two chariots as effulgent as the sun suddenly descended from the sky. They were complete with drivers and equipment.

Essence. Two chariots effulgent as the sun descend from the sky, complete with drivers and equipment — from Vaikuṇṭha. When the Lord decides to act, the equipment shows up; provision follows decision.

BG 50.12

The Lord’s eternal divine weapons also appeared before Him spontaneously. Seeing these, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Lord of the senses, addressed Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa.

Essence. The Lord's eternal divine weapons appear spontaneously; Kṛṣṇa, seeing them, addresses Saṅkarṣaṇa. Tools of one's deepest purpose materialize on their own when invoked; the Lord's weapons are pre-arranged.

BG 50.13-14

[The Supreme Lord said:] My respected elder brother, see this danger which has beset Your dependents, the Yadus! And see, dear master, how Your personal chariot and favorite weapons have come before You. The purpose for which We have taken birth, My Lord, is to secure the welfare of Our devotees. Please now remove from the earth the burden of these twenty-three armies.

Essence. Respected elder brother, see the danger to Your dependents the Yadus, and see Your chariot and weapons before You. The purpose for which We have taken birth is to protect dharma. Mission is announced explicitly between cooperating Lords.

BG 50.15

After Lord Kṛṣṇa had thus invited His brother, the two Dāśārhas, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, wearing armor and displaying Their resplendent weapons, drove out of the city in Their chariots. Only a very small contingent of soldiers accompanied Them.

Essence. The two Dāśārhas, wearing armor with resplendent weapons, drive out of the city with only a very small contingent. Quality outweighs quantity when the Lord goes to war; small accompanying forces are not a problem.

BG 50.16

As Lord Kṛṣṇa came out of the city with Dāruka at the reins of His chariot, He blew His conchshell, and the enemy soldiers’ hearts began to tremble with fear.

Essence. As Kṛṣṇa exits with Dāruka at the reins, He blows His conchshell and the enemy's hearts tremble with fear. The very sound of the Lord's signal undoes opposing courage.

BG 50.17

Jarāsandha looked at the two of Them and said: O Kṛṣṇa, lowest of men! I do not wish to fight alone with You, since it would be a shame to fight with a mere boy. You fool who keep Yourself hidden, O murderer of Your relatives, go away! I will not fight with You.

Essence. Jarāsandha says: lowest of men! Shame to fight a boy; fool, murderer of relatives, go away — I won't fight You! The wicked invent insults precisely because they fear the opponent.

BG 50.18

You, Rāma, should gather Your courage and fight with me, if You think You can do it. You may either give up Your body when it is cut to pieces by my arrows, and thus attain to heaven, or else kill me.

Essence. Rāma, gather courage and fight me if You can — either die and attain heaven or kill me. Bullies offer 'fair' deals that are designed to humiliate either way.

BG 50.19

The Supreme Lord said: Real heroes do not simply boast but rather show their prowess in action. We cannot take seriously the words of one who is full of anxiety and who wants to die.

Essence. Kṛṣṇa: real heroes don't boast but show prowess in action; we cannot take seriously the words of one anxious and wanting to die. The Lord refuses to engage in verbal contest; action is the only language He accepts.

BG 50.20

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Just as the wind covers the sun with clouds or a fire with dust, the son of Jarā marched toward the two descendants of Madhu and with his huge assemblage of armies surrounded Them and Their soldiers, chariots, flags, horses and charioteers.

Essence. Like wind covering the sun with clouds, Jarāsandha's huge army surrounds the two with chariots, flags, horses, charioteers. The covering is appearance only; the sun shines on inside the vast sky.

BG 50.21

The women stood in the watchtowers, palaces and high gates of the city. When they could no longer see Kṛṣṇa’s and Balarāma’s chariots, identified by banners marked with the emblems of Garuḍa and a palm tree, they were struck with grief and fainted.

Essence. Women in watchtowers and palaces, unable to see the brothers' chariots marked with Garuḍa and palm tree banners, faint with grief. Devotees on the sidelines feel the war in their bodies; absence of sight produces visible collapse.

BG 50.22

Seeing His army tormented by the relentless and savage rain of arrows from the massive opposing forces gathered like clouds about Him, Lord Hari twanged His excellent bow, Śārṅga, which both gods and demons worship.

Essence. Seeing His army tormented by relentless arrows from cloud-like opposing forces, Hari twangs His excellent bow Śārṅga, worshiped by gods and demons. Even worshiped weapons are used; the Lord doesn't keep them ornamental.

BG 50.23

Lord Kṛṣṇa took arrows from His quiver, fixed them on the bowstring, pulled back, and released endless torrents of sharp shafts, which struck the enemy’s chariots, elephants, horses and infantrymen. The Lord shooting His arrows resembled a blazing circle of fire.

Essence. Kṛṣṇa fixes endless arrows that strike chariots, elephants, horses, infantry, like a blazing fire-circle. Sustained, accurate output beats one heroic strike; bhakti needs steady stream, not occasional burst.

BG 50.24

Elephants fell to the ground, their foreheads split open, cavalry horses fell with severed necks, chariots fell with their horses, flags, drivers and masters all shattered, and foot soldiers collapsed with severed arms, thighs and shoulders.

Essence. Elephants fall with split foreheads, horses with severed necks, chariots shattered with drivers and masters, foot soldiers collapse with severed limbs. Detailed destruction is the consequence of organized force; nothing of the demonic army survives untouched.

BG 50.25-28

BG 50.29

For Him who orchestrates the creation, maintenance and destruction of the three worlds and who possesses unlimited spiritual qualities, it is hardly amazing that He subdues an opposing party. Still, when the Lord does so, imitating human behavior, sages glorify His acts.

Essence. For Him who orchestrates creation, maintenance, and destruction of three worlds, it is hardly amazing to subdue an opposing party — yet when He acts as human, sages glorify Him. Even ordinary-seeming acts of the Lord become hymns when noticed.

BG 50.30

Jarāsandha, with his chariot lost and all his soldiers dead, was left with only his breath. At that point Lord Balarāma forcibly seized the powerful warrior, just as one lion takes hold of another.

Essence. Jarāsandha, chariot lost, soldiers dead, left only with breath, is seized by Balarāma like a lion seizing another. The strong elder Lord finishes what the younger has weakened; team work has its order.

BG 50.31

With the divine noose of Varuṇa and other, mortal ropes, Balarāma began tying up Jarāsandha, who had killed so many foes. But Lord Govinda still had a purpose to fulfill through Jarāsandha, and thus He asked Balarāma to stop.

Essence. With Varuṇa's noose and mortal ropes Balarāma begins tying him; but Govinda still has a purpose through Jarāsandha and stops Balarāma. Some enemies are spared not from mercy but because their continued existence serves the Lord's plan.

BG 50.32-33

Jarāsandha, whom fighters had highly honored, was ashamed after being released by the two Lords of the universe, and thus he decided to undergo penances. On the road, however, several kings convinced him with both spiritual wisdom and mundane arguments that he should give up his idea of self-abnegation. They told him, “Your defeat by the Yadus was simply the unavoidable reaction of your past karma.”

Essence. Released and ashamed, Jarāsandha decides to undergo penances; but kings convince him with spiritual and mundane arguments that he was defeated by destiny. The wicked listen to flattering explanations and abandon what penance would have begun.

BG 50.34

All of his armies having been killed, and himself neglected by the Personality of Godhead, King Jarāsandha, son of Bṛhadratha, then sadly returned to the kingdom of the Magadhas.

Essence. Armies killed, neglected by the Lord, Jarāsandha sadly returns to Magadha. The Lord's neglect is itself a form of judgment; being ignored after defeat is worse than being killed.

BG 50.35-36

Lord Mukunda had crossed the ocean of His enemy’s armies with His own military force completely intact. He received congratulations from the denizens of heaven, who showered Him with flowers. The people of Mathurā, relieved of their feverish anxiety and filled with joy, came out to meet Him as professional bards, heralds and panegyrists sang in praise of His victory.

Essence. Mukunda crosses the ocean of enemy armies with His force intact, receives congratulations from heaven's denizens who shower flowers; Mathurā's people, relieved of feverish anxiety, fill the city with joy. Real victory leaves your own people undiminished.

BG 50.37-38

As the Lord entered His city, conchshells and kettledrums sounded, and many drums, horns, vīṇās, flutes and mṛdaṅgas played in concert. The boulevards were sprinkled with water, there were banners everywhere, and the gateways were decorated for the celebration. The citizens were elated, and the city resounded with the chanting of Vedic hymns.

Essence. Entering the city to conchshells, kettledrums, horns, vīṇās, flutes and mṛdaṅgas; boulevards sprinkled with water; banners everywhere; decorated gateways. Return after war is welcomed with full ceremony; community marks the safe arrival.

BG 50.39

As the women of the city affectionately looked at the Lord, their eyes wide open with love, they scattered flower garlands, yogurt, parched rice and newly grown sprouts upon Him.

Essence. The women of the city scatter flower garlands, yogurt, parched rice and newly grown sprouts on the Lord, eyes wide with love. Specific ritual items in welcome carry layered meanings; daily women's gestures are sacred politics.

BG 50.40

Lord Kṛṣṇa then presented to the Yadu king all the wealth that had fallen on the battlefield — namely, the countless ornaments of the dead warriors.

Essence. Kṛṣṇa presents to the Yadu king all the wealth that fell on the battlefield — countless ornaments of the dead. Victor's spoils are given to the proper authority; redistribution is part of victory's discipline.

BG 50.41

Seventeen times the King of Magadha met defeat in this very way. And yet throughout these defeats he fought on with his akṣauhiṇī divisions against the forces of the Yadu dynasty who were protected by Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Essence. Seventeen times Jarāsandha is defeated and yet keeps coming back with akṣauhiṇī divisions. Some adversaries return repeatedly; the spiritual life is not always a one-and-done deal.

BG 50.42

By the power of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Vṛṣṇis would invariably annihilate all of Jarāsandha’s forces, and when all his soldiers had been killed, the King, released by his enemies, would again go away.

Essence. By Kṛṣṇa's power the Vṛṣṇis annihilate all forces; the King, released, leaves and returns. The cycle continues until the Lord decides otherwise; ongoing battles within His grace are normal.

BG 50.43

Just as the eighteenth battle was about to take place, a barbarian warrior named Kālayavana, sent by Nārada, appeared on the battlefield.

Essence. Just as the eighteenth battle is about to begin, a barbarian Kālayavana — sent by Nārada — appears on the battlefield. New characters arrive in old wars; sages can be the source of complications that look like setbacks.

BG 50.44

Arriving at Mathurā, this Yavana laid siege to the city with thirty million barbarian soldiers. He had never found a human rival worth fighting, but he had heard that the Vṛṣṇis were his equals.

Essence. Arriving at Mathurā, Kālayavana lays siege with thirty million barbarian soldiers; never finding a human rival, he had heard the Vṛṣṇis were his equals. Specifically targeted opposition can come from precise information about your strength.

BG 50.45

When Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa saw Kālayavana, Kṛṣṇa thought about the situation and said, “Ah, a great danger now threatens the Yadus from two sides.

Essence. Kṛṣṇa thinks: a great danger threatens the Yadus from two sides. The Lord doesn't pretend two-front problems are simple; He names the actual difficulty before solving it.

BG 50.46

“This Yavana is besieging us already, and the mighty King of Magadha will soon arrive here, if not today then tomorrow or the next day.

Essence. Kālayavana is besieging now; powerful Jarāsandha will arrive today, tomorrow, or the day after. Timing pressure shapes strategy; quick decisions don't have the luxury of patience.

BG 50.47

“If powerful Jarāsandha comes while We two are busy fighting Kālayavana, Jarāsandha may kill Our relatives or else take them away to his capital.

Essence. If Jarāsandha comes while We fight Kālayavana, he may kill or capture Our relatives. Honest acknowledgment of consequences is part of strategic thinking; the Lord names possible disasters.

BG 50.48

“Therefore We will immediately construct a fortress that no human force can penetrate. Let Us settle our family members there and then kill the barbarian king.”

Essence. Therefore We will immediately construct an impenetrable fortress, settle Our family members there, then kill the barbarian king. The Lord adopts a relocation strategy; sometimes moving the precious to safety is the next move.

BG 50.49

After thus discussing the matter with Balarāma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead had a fortress twelve yojanas in circumference built within the sea. Inside that fort He had a city built containing all kinds of wonderful things.

Essence. The Lord has a fortress twelve yojanas in circumference built within the sea, with a city of wonderful things inside. Strategic withdrawal can be itself a creative act; Dvārakā is built as part of the war strategy.

BG 50.50-53

In the construction of that city could be seen the full scientific knowledge and architectural skill of Viśvakarmā. There were wide avenues, commercial roads and courtyards laid out on ample plots of land; there were splendid parks, and also gardens stocked with trees and creepers from the heavenly planets. The gateway towers were topped with golden turrets touching the sky, and their upper levels were fashioned of crystal quartz. The gold-covered houses were adorned in front with golden pots and on top with jeweled roofs, and their floors were inlaid with precious emeralds. Beside the houses stood treasury buildings, warehouses, and stables for fine horses, all built of silver and brass. Each residence had a watchtower, and also a temple for its household deity. Filled with citizens of all four social orders, the city was especially beautified by the palaces of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the Yadus.

Essence. Viśvakarmā's full architectural science: avenues, courtyards, parks, gardens, palaces, temples, marketplaces — Dvārakā is built to perfection. Even the Lord's strategic city is beautifully constructed; safety and beauty coexist.

BG 50.54

Lord Indra brought Śrī Kṛṣṇa the Sudharmā assembly hall, standing within which a mortal man is not subject to the laws of mortality. Indra also gave the pārijāta tree.

Essence. Indra brings the Sudharmā assembly hall where mortals are not subject to mortality, and the pārijāta tree. Cosmic resources arrive when the Lord asks; the gods contribute their best to His architectural project.

BG 50.55

Lord Varuṇa offered horses as swift as the mind, some of which were pure dark-blue, others white. The treasurer of the demigods, Kuvera, gave his eight mystic treasures, and the rulers of various planets each presented their own opulences.

Essence. Varuṇa offers mind-swift horses (dark-blue and white); Kuvera gives eight mystic treasures; planetary rulers each present their opulences. Multiple powers each give their best when the central project is His.

BG 50.56

The Supreme Lord having come to the earth, O King, these demigods now offered Him whatever powers of control He had previously delegated to them for the exercise of their particular authority.

Essence. The Lord having come to earth, demigods offered Him whatever powers of control He had previously delegated. Authority delegated returns to its origin when the origin is present; devolved power flows back when the source arrives.

BG 50.57

After transporting all His subjects to the new city by the power of His mystic Yoga-māyā, Lord Kṛṣṇa consulted with Lord Balarāma, who had remained in Mathurā to protect it. Then, wearing a garland of lotuses but bearing no weapons, Lord Kṛṣṇa went out of Mathurā by its main gate.

Essence. After transporting all subjects to the new city by Yoga-māyā, Kṛṣṇa consults Balarāma, who stayed to protect Mathurā; then, wearing a lotus garland but bearing no weapons, He walks out. The Lord can confront the next threat unarmed; some battles need garland, not bow.