FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.2.25

वसुदेवस्य देवक्यां जातो भोजेन्द्रबन्धने । चिकीर्षुर्भगवानस्या: शमजेनाभियाचित: ॥ २५ ॥
vasudevasya devakyāṁ
[vasudevasya devakyaam]
jāto bhojendra-bandhane
[jaato bhojendra-bandhane]
cikīrṣur bhagavān asyāḥ
[chikeershur bhagavaan asyaah]
śam ajenābhiyācitaḥ
[sham ajenaabhiyaachitah]
vasudevasya — of the wife of Vasudeva devakyām — in the womb of Devakī jātaḥ — born of bhoja-indra — of the King of the Bhojas bandhane — in the prison house cikīrṣuḥ — for doing bhagavān — the Personality of Godhead asyāḥ — of the earth śam — welfare ajena — by Brahmā abhiyācitaḥ — being prayed for.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vasudevasya devakyāṁ
vasudevasya
of the wife of Vasudeva
devakyām
in the womb of Devakī
jāto bhojendra-bandhane
jātaḥ
born of
bhoja-indra
of the King of the Bhojas
bandhane
in the prison house
cikīrṣur bhagavān asyāḥ
cikīrṣuḥ
for doing
bhagavān
the Personality of Godhead
asyāḥ
of the earth
śam ajenābhiyācitaḥ
śam
welfare
ajena
by Brahmā
abhiyācitaḥ
being prayed for.
The Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, being prayed to by Brahmā to bring welfare to the earth, was begotten by Vasudeva in the womb of his wife Devakī in the prison of the King of Bhoja.

Although there is no difference between the Lord’s pastimes of appearance and disappearance, the devotees of the Lord do not generally discuss the subject matter of His disappearance. Vidura inquired indirectly from Uddhava about the incident of the Lord’s disappearance by asking him to relate kṛṣṇa-kathā, or topics on the history of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Thus Uddhava began the topics from the very beginning of His appearance as the son of Vasudeva and Devakī in the prison of Kaṁsa, the King of the Bhojas, at Mathurā. The Lord has no business in this world, but when He is so requested by devotees like Brahmā, He descends to the earth for the welfare of the entire universe. This is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.8) : paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām/ dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Born in the womb of Devakī to Vasudeva in the prison of Kaṁsa, Kṛṣṇa desired to give happiness to the earth at the request of Brahmā. In order to answer Vidura’s questions, Uddhava had to tell him about the disappearance of Kṛṣṇa. Now he attempts to explain this sad pastime along with the joyous pastimes. He was born in the prison (bandhane) of Kaṁsa. He desired to give happiness (śam) to the earth (asyāḥ) at the request of Brahmā (ajena).
The Lord appears when His devotees ask Him to. Brahma's prayer brought Krsna into the prison house. Your prayer can also be the cause of His descent into a difficult situation. Do not underestimate the petition of a sincere heart.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'prison' in your life are you not yet inviting Krsna into through prayer?
  • Whom on earth might you be supposed to pray for so that the Lord can act through them?
📝 My note

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