Chapter 30 · Class prep
A printable handout for teaching this chapter. For each verse with Personal Guidance, you'll see Prabhupāda's translation, the essence, two or three practical applications, and a discussion prompt. Press ⌘P / Ctrl P to print as a handout.
BG 30.1
King Parīkṣit said: After the great devotee Uddhava left for the forest, what did the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the protector of all living beings, do in the city of Dvārakā?
Essence. Parīkṣit asks what the Lord did in Dvārakā after Uddhava departed for the forest. Even at chapter shifts, the audience asks for what comes next.
BG 30.2
After His own dynasty met destruction from the curse of the brāhmaṇas, how could the best of the Yadus give up His body, the dearmost object of all eyes?
Essence. After the brāhmaṇas' curse destroyed His dynasty, how could the best of the Yadus give up His body, which was dear to all eyes? The question carries Parīkṣit's love and grief.
BG 30.3
Once their eyes were fixed upon His transcendental form, women were unable to withdraw them, and once that form had entered the ears of the sages and become fixed in their hearts, it would never depart. What to speak of acquiring fame, the great poets who described the beauty of the Lord’s form would have their words invested with transcendentally pleasing attraction. And by seeing that form on Arjuna’s chariot, all the warriors on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra attained the liberation of gaining a spiritual body similar to the Lord’s.
Essence. Once His form entered eyes, women could not withdraw them; once it entered sages' hearts, it would never depart; poets who describe it become purified — what to speak of fame. Beauty's effect is named.
BG 30.4
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Having observed many disturbing signs in the sky, on the earth and in outer space, Lord Kṛṣṇa addressed the Yadus assembled in the Sudharmā council hall as follows.
Essence. Having observed many disturbing signs in sky, earth, and outer space, the Lord addressed the Yadus in the Sudharmā council hall. Signs precede the major event.
BG 30.5
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O leaders of the Yadu dynasty, please note all these terrible omens that have appeared in Dvārakā just like the flags of death. We should not remain here a moment longer.
Essence. The Lord names the omens as flags of death and says they should not remain a moment longer. Naming and acting come together.
BG 30.6
The women, children and old men should leave this city and go to Śaṅkhoddhāra. We shall go to Prabhāsa-kṣetra, where the river Sarasvatī flows toward the west.
Essence. Women, children, and elders should leave for Śaṅkhoddhāra; we will go to Prabhāsa-kṣetra where Sarasvatī flows west. Movement is structured by who goes where.
BG 30.7
There we should bathe for purification, fast, and fix our minds in meditation. We should then worship the demigods by bathing their images, anointing them with sandalwood pulp, and presenting them various offerings.
Essence. At Prabhāsa, bathe for purification, fast, fix the mind in meditation, worship the demigods by bathing images, anointing them, presenting offerings. The full procedure is named.
BG 30.8
After performing the expiatory rituals with the help of greatly fortunate brāhmaṇas, we will worship those brāhmaṇas by offering them cows, land, gold, clothing, elephants, horses, chariots and dwelling places.
Essence. After expiatory rituals with fortunate brāhmaṇas, worship them by offering cows, land, gold, clothing, elephants, horses, chariots, and dwellings. Worship is generous and concrete.
BG 30.9
This is indeed the appropriate process for counteracting our imminent adversity, and it is sure to bring about the highest good fortune. Such worship of the demigods, brāhmaṇas and cows can earn the highest birth for all living entities.
Essence. This is the appropriate process to counter imminent adversity and brings highest good fortune; such worship earns highest birth for all beings. The Lord names sacred response to crisis.
BG 30.10
Having heard these words from Lord Kṛṣṇa, the enemy of Madhu, the elders of the Yadu dynasty gave their assent, saying, “So be it.” After crossing over the ocean in boats, they proceeded on chariots to Prabhāsa.
Essence. The elders assented, and they crossed the ocean in boats, proceeded on chariots to Prabhāsa. The community moves together under direction.
BG 30.11
There, with great devotion, the Yādavas performed the religious ceremonies according to the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, their personal Lord. They also performed various other auspicious rituals.
Essence. The Yādavas performed the religious ceremonies as instructed by the Lord, along with various auspicious rituals. Even the doomed perform their dharma.
BG 30.12
Then, their intelligence covered by Providence, they liberally indulged in drinking the sweet maireya beverage, which can completely intoxicate the mind.
Essence. Their intelligence covered by Providence, they liberally drank maireya beverage, completely intoxicating the mind. Providence opens the slip.
BG 30.13
The heroes of the Yadu dynasty became intoxicated from their extravagant drinking and began to feel arrogant. When they were thus bewildered by the personal potency of Lord Kṛṣṇa, a terrible quarrel arose among them.
Essence. Intoxicated, the Yadu heroes felt arrogant; bewildered by the Lord's own potency, a terrible quarrel arose. Pride plus alcohol plus the Lord's design produced the collision.
BG 30.14
Infuriated, they seized their bows and arrows, swords, bhallas, clubs, lances and spears and attacked one another on the shore of the ocean.
Essence. Infuriated, they seized bows, arrows, swords, clubs, lances, spears and attacked one another on the ocean shore. Anger arms quickly.
BG 30.15
Riding on elephants and chariots with flags flying, and also on donkeys, camels, bulls, buffalos, mules and even human beings, the extremely enraged warriors came together and violently attacked one another with arrows, just as elephants in the forest attack one another with their tusks.
Essence. On elephants, chariots, donkeys, camels, bulls, buffalos, mules, even humans, enraged warriors attacked each other like forest elephants. The violence enlists everything available.
BG 30.16
Their mutual enmity aroused, Pradyumna fought fiercely against Sāmba, Akrūra against Kuntibhoja, Aniruddha against Sātyaki, Subhadra against Saṅgrāmajit, Sumitra against Suratha, and the two Gadas against each other.
Essence. Pradyumna fought Sāmba, Akrūra fought Kuntibhoja, Aniruddha against Sātyaki, brothers and cousins against each other. Internal enmities surface under stress.
BG 30.17
Others also, such as Niśaṭha, Ulmuka, Sahasrajit, Śatajit and Bhānu, confronted and killed one another, being blinded by intoxication and thus completely bewildered by Lord Mukunda Himself.
Essence. Others — Niśaṭha, Ulmuka, Sahasrajit, Śatajit, Bhānu — also killed each other, blinded by intoxication, bewildered by the Lord Himself. The Lord is the unseen agent of their collapse.
BG 30.18
Completely abandoning their natural friendship, the members of the various Yadu clans — the Dāśārhas, Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas, the Bhojas, Sātvatas, Madhus and Arbudas, the Māthuras, Śūrasenas, Visarjanas, Kukuras and Kuntis — all slaughtered one another.
Essence. Abandoning natural friendship, the various Yadu clans slaughtered one another — Dāśārhas, Vṛṣṇis, Andhakas, Bhojas, Sātvatas, and more. The fabric of belonging tore.
BG 30.19
Thus bewildered, sons fought with fathers, brothers with brothers, nephews with paternal and maternal uncles, and grandsons with grandfathers. Friends fought with friends, and well-wishers with well-wishers. In this way intimate friends and relatives all killed one another.
Essence. Sons fought fathers, brothers fought brothers, nephews fought uncles, grandsons fought grandfathers, friends and well-wishers killed each other. The categories collapsed in violence.
BG 30.20
When all their bows had been broken and their arrows and other missiles spent, they seized the tall stalks of cane with their bare hands.
Essence. All bows broken and missiles spent, they seized tall cane stalks with bare hands. Even disarmed they continue.
BG 30.21
As soon as they took these cane stalks in their fists, the stalks changed into iron rods as hard as thunderbolts. With these weapons the warriors began attacking one another again and again, and when Lord Kṛṣṇa tried to stop them they attacked Him as well.
Essence. In their fists, cane stalks turned into iron rods like thunderbolts; they attacked each other again and again, and even attacked the Lord when He tried to stop them. The Lord's mediation is rejected by intoxication.
BG 30.22
In their confused state, O King, they also mistook Lord Balarāma for an enemy. Weapons in hand, they ran toward Him with the intention of killing Him.
Essence. Confused, they mistook Balarāma for an enemy and ran at Him with weapons. The intoxication makes even Lordship invisible.
BG 30.23
O son of the Kurus, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma then became very angry. Picking up cane stalks, They moved about within the battle and began to kill with these clubs.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma became angry, picked up cane stalks, and began killing with these clubs. Even the Lord's anger has a precise form.
BG 30.24
The violent anger of these warriors, who were overcome by the brāhmaṇas’ curse and bewildered by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s illusory potency, now led them to their annihilation, just as a fire that starts in a bamboo grove destroys the entire forest.
Essence. Their anger, overcome by curse and the Lord's illusory potency, led to annihilation — like fire in bamboo destroying the forest. The image returns from earlier teaching.
BG 30.25
When all the members of His own dynasty were thus destroyed, Lord Kṛṣṇa thought to Himself that at last the burden of the earth had been removed.
Essence. With His dynasty destroyed, the Lord thought the earth's burden was at last removed. The cosmic purpose is named at the human-scale tragedy.
BG 30.26
Lord Balarāma then sat down on the shore of the ocean and fixed Himself in meditation upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Merging Himself within Himself, He gave up this mortal world.
Essence. Balarāma sat on the ocean shore, fixed in meditation on the Supreme, merged Himself within Himself, and gave up the mortal world. Even Balarāma's departure is meditative.
BG 30.27
Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī, having seen the departure of Lord Rāma, sat down silently on the ground under a nearby pippala tree.
Essence. Seeing Balarāma's departure, Kṛṣṇa sat silently on the ground under a nearby pippala tree. The transition is quiet.
BG 30.28-32
The Lord was exhibiting His brilliantly effulgent four-armed form, the radiance of which, just like a smokeless fire, dissipated the darkness in all directions. His complexion was the color of a dark blue cloud and His effulgence the color of molten gold, and His all-auspicious form bore the mark of Śrīvatsa. A beautiful smile graced His lotus face, locks of dark blue hair adorned His head, His lotus eyes were very attractive, and His shark-shaped earrings glittered. He wore a pair of silken garments, an ornamental belt, the sacred thread, bracelets and arm ornaments, along with a helmet, the Kaustubha jewel, necklaces, anklets and other royal emblems. Encircling His body were flower garlands and His personal weapons in their embodied forms. As He sat He held His left foot, with its lotus-red sole, upon His right thigh.
Essence. The Lord displayed His brilliantly effulgent four-armed form, complexion like a dark blue cloud, effulgence like molten gold, surrounded by Vaikuṇṭha paraphernalia. Even at the moment of departure, His beauty is preserved.
BG 30.33
Just then a hunter named Jarā, who had approached the place, mistook the Lord’s foot for a deer’s face. Thinking he had found his prey, Jarā pierced the foot with his arrow, which he had fashioned from the remaining iron fragment of Sāmba’s club.
Essence. A hunter named Jarā, mistaking the Lord's foot for a deer's face, shot it with an arrow made from Sāmba's remaining club fragment. Apparent accidents fulfill the design.
BG 30.34
Then, seeing that four-armed personality, the hunter became terrified of the offense he had committed, and he fell down, placing his head upon the feet of the enemy of the demons.
Essence. Seeing the four-armed personality, the hunter became terrified and fell at the feet of the enemy of demons. The accidental offender bows down.
BG 30.35
Jarā said: O Lord Madhusūdana, I am a most sinful person. I have committed this act out of ignorance. O purest Lord, O Uttamaḥśloka, please forgive this sinner.
Essence. Jarā cries: I am most sinful, I acted out of ignorance — O purest Lord, please forgive this sinner. Confession is direct.
BG 30.36
O Lord Viṣṇu, the learned say that for any man, constant remembrance of You will destroy the darkness of ignorance. O master, I have wronged You!
Essence. The learned say constant remembrance of You destroys ignorance's darkness — and I have wronged You. Repentance includes admitting that one knew better.
BG 30.37
Therefore, O Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, please kill this sinful hunter of animals immediately so he may not again commit such offenses against saintly persons.
Essence. Please kill this sinful animal-hunter immediately so he may not offend saintly persons again. Jarā even asks for his own end.
BG 30.38
Neither Brahmā nor his sons, headed by Rudra, nor any of the great sages who are masters of the Vedic mantras can understand the function of Your mystic power. Because Your illusory potency has covered their sight, they remain ignorant of how Your mystic power works. Therefore, what can I, such a low-born person, possibly say?
Essence. Not Brahmā, not Rudra, not great Vedic sages can understand the Lord's mystic potency — covered by māyā, they don't know how it works. The Lord's mystery is preserved.
BG 30.39
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Jarā, do not fear. Please get up. What has been done is actually My own desire. With My permission, go now to the abode of the pious, the spiritual world.
Essence. Do not fear, get up. What has been done is My own desire. With My permission, go to the abode of the pious. The Lord reframes the hunter's offense as His will.
BG 30.40
So instructed by the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, who assumes His transcendental body by His own will, the hunter circumambulated the Lord three times and bowed down to Him. Then the hunter departed in an airplane that had appeared just to carry him to the spiritual sky.
Essence. Instructed by Kṛṣṇa, who assumes His transcendental body by His own will, the hunter circumambulated, bowed, and departed in an airplane just for him. Even the offender is given a divine vehicle.
BG 30.41
At that time Dāruka was searching for his master, Kṛṣṇa. As he neared the place where the Lord was sitting, he perceived the aroma of tulasī flowers in the breeze and went in its direction.
Essence. Dāruka, searching for his master, perceived the aroma of tulasī flowers in the breeze and followed it. Even small sensory clues lead the devotee home.
BG 30.42
Upon seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa resting at the foot of a banyan tree, surrounded by His shining weapons, Dāruka could not control the affection he felt in his heart. His eyes filled with tears as he rushed down from the chariot and fell at the Lord’s feet.
Essence. Seeing Kṛṣṇa resting at the foot of a banyan, surrounded by shining weapons, Dāruka couldn't control his affection — tears flowed and he fell at the Lord's feet. Beauty plus context overwhelms.
BG 30.43
Dāruka said: Just as on a moonless night people are merged into darkness and cannot find their way, now that I have lost sight of Your lotus feet, my Lord, I have lost my vision and am wandering blindly in darkness. I cannot tell my direction, nor can I find any peace.
Essence. As on a moonless night people cannot find their way, having lost sight of Your lotus feet I am blind, cannot tell direction, cannot find any happiness. Dāruka names the disorientation precisely.
BG 30.44
[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] O foremost of kings, while the chariot driver was still speaking, before his very eyes the Lord’s chariot rose up into the sky along with its horses and its flag, which was marked with the emblem of Garuḍa.
Essence. While the driver was still speaking, the Lord's chariot, horses, and Garuḍa-flag rose into the sky before his eyes. Departure is staged so the witness sees.
BG 30.45
All the divine weapons of Viṣṇu rose up and followed the chariot. The Lord, Janārdana, then spoke to His chariot driver, who was most astonished to see all this.
Essence. All divine weapons rose and followed the chariot; the Lord then spoke to His most astonished driver. Even the weapons honor His departure.
BG 30.46
O driver, go to Dvārakā and tell Our family members how their loved ones destroyed one another. Also tell them of the disappearance of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa and of My present condition.
Essence. Go to Dvārakā and tell the family how their loved ones destroyed each other, of Saṅkarṣaṇa's disappearance, and My present condition. Truth-telling is part of departure.
BG 30.47
You and your relatives should not remain in Dvārakā, the capital of the Yadus, because once I have abandoned that city it will be inundated by the ocean.
Essence. You and relatives should not remain in Dvārakā — once I have abandoned it, the ocean will inundate it. The city's grace was His residence.
BG 30.48
You should all take your own families, together with My parents, and under Arjuna’s protection go to Indraprastha.
Essence. All take families, with My parents, under Arjuna's protection, and go to Indraprastha. Care for the elders is named even at departure.
BG 30.49
You, Dāruka, should be firmly situated in devotion to Me, remaining fixed in spiritual knowledge and unattached to material considerations. Understanding these pastimes to be a display of My illusory potency, you should remain peaceful.
Essence. Dāruka, be firmly situated in devotion, fixed in spiritual knowledge, unattached to material considerations; understand these pastimes as illusory potency, remain peaceful. Personal instruction at parting.
BG 30.50
Thus ordered, Dāruka circumambulated the Lord and offered obeisances to Him again and again. He placed Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet upon his head and then with a sad heart went back to the city.
Essence. Dāruka circumambulated, offered obeisances again and again, placed the Lord's lotus feet on his head, and with a sad heart went back to the city. Even sad departures are completed reverently.