Chapter 24 · Class prep
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BG 24.1
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: By the womb of the girl brought by his father, Vidarbha begot three sons, named Kuśa, Kratha and Romapāda. Romapāda was the favorite in the dynasty of Vidarbha.
Essence. Vidarbha begets Kuśa, Kratha, and Romapāda — Romapāda becoming the dynasty's favorite. Within a single family, even when all are loved, one branch quietly takes the lead in the long story.
BG 24.2
The son of Romapāda was Babhru, from whom there came a son named Kṛti. The son of Kṛti was Uśika, and the son of Uśika was Cedi. From Cedi was born the king known as Caidya and others.
Essence. Through Babhru, Kṛti, Uśika, Cedi — Cedi gives his name to the state and to Caidya (Śiśupāla). Names become regions, regions become identities, identities collide with the Lord centuries later.
BG 24.3-4
The son of Kratha was Kunti; the son of Kunti, Vṛṣṇi; the son of Vṛṣṇi, Nirvṛti; and the son of Nirvṛti, Daśārha. From Daśārha came Vyoma; from Vyoma came Jīmūta; from Jīmūta, Vikṛti; from Vikṛti, Bhīmaratha; from Bhīmaratha, Navaratha; and from Navaratha, Daśaratha.
Essence. The line Kunti, Vṛṣṇi, Nirvṛti, Daśārha, Vyoma, Jīmūta, Vikṛti, Bhīmaratha, Navaratha, Daśaratha — long and steady. Bhāgavatam's patience with detail is itself an antidote to our hunger for spectacle.
BG 24.5
From Daśaratha came a son named Śakuni and from Śakuni a son named Karambhi. The son of Karambhi was Devarāta, and his son was Devakṣatra. The son of Devakṣatra was Madhu, and his son was Kuruvaśa, from whom there came a son named Anu.
Essence. Śakuni, Karambhi, Devarāta, Devakṣatra, Madhu, Kuruvaśa, Anu — yet another stretch leading to a key name. The Bhāgavatam is moving us slowly toward the family of Kṛṣṇa.
BG 24.6-8
The son of Anu was Puruhotra, the son of Puruhotra was Ayu, and the son of Ayu was Sātvata. O great Āryan King, Sātvata had seven sons, named Bhajamāna, Bhaji, Divya, Vṛṣṇi, Devāvṛdha, Andhaka and Mahābhoja. From Bhajamāna by one wife came three sons — Nimloci, Kiṅkaṇa and Dhṛṣṭi. And from his other wife came three other sons — Śatājit, Sahasrājit and Ayutājit.
Essence. Sātvata has seven sons — Bhajamāna, Bhaji, Divya, Vṛṣṇi, Devāvṛdha, Andhaka, Mahābhoja — each starting a major branch. From a single ancestor, an entire constellation of lineages associated with Kṛṣṇa's clan begins to take shape.
BG 24.9
The son of Devāvṛdha was Babhru. Concerning Devāvṛdha and Babhru there are two famous songs of prayer, which were sung by our predecessors and which we have heard from a distance. Even now I hear the same prayers about their qualities [because that which was heard before is still sung continuously].
Essence. About Devāvṛdha and Babhru there are 'famous songs of prayer' our predecessors sang and we still hear. Liturgical memory transmits a sense of qualities long after the persons are gone — songs do what lists cannot.
BG 24.10-11
“It has been decided that among human beings Babhru is the best and that Devāvṛdha is equal to the demigods. Because of the association of Babhru and Devāvṛdha, all of their descendants, numbering 14,065, achieved liberation.” In the dynasty of King Mahābhoja, who was exceedingly religious, there appeared the Bhoja kings.
Essence. By association with Babhru and Devāvṛdha, 14,065 descendants achieved liberation. Sat-saṅga, even at family scale, can liberate thousands; we should not underestimate the spiritual power radiating from devotional persons we sit beside.
BG 24.12
O King, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, who can suppress your enemies, the sons of Vṛṣṇi were Sumitra and Yudhājit. From Yudhājit came Śini and Anamitra, and from Anamitra came a son named Nighna.
Essence. Vṛṣṇi's sons Sumitra and Yudhājit. From Yudhājit, Śini and Anamitra; from Anamitra, Nighna. The list begins to converge toward Kṛṣṇa's immediate circle, and we recognize names we will hear in His pastimes.
BG 24.13
The two sons of Nighna were Satrājita and Prasena. Another son of Anamitra was another Śini, and his son was Satyaka.
Essence. Nighna's sons are Satrājita and Prasena — names that will later be central to the Syamantaka jewel story. The Bhāgavatam quietly lays the foundation for stories that will need this background.
BG 24.14
The son of Satyaka was Yuyudhāna, whose son was Jaya. From Jaya came a son named Kuṇi and from Kuṇi a son named Yugandhara. Another son of Anamitra was Vṛṣṇi.
Essence. Satyaka begets Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki), a Mahābhārata hero. Lines patiently produce, generations after generations, the precise warrior the Lord will need on a specific battlefield.
BG 24.15
From Vṛṣṇi came the sons named Śvaphalka and Citraratha. From Śvaphalka by his wife Gāndinī came Akrūra. Akrūra was the eldest, but there were twelve other sons, all of whom were most celebrated.
Essence. Śvaphalka and Gāndinī produce Akrūra, the eldest of thirteen sons. Devotees who will play key parts in Kṛṣṇa's pastimes are casually slotted into dynastic lists; the Lord's helpers are not random.
BG 24.16-18
The names of these twelve were Āsaṅga, Sārameya, Mṛdura, Mṛduvit, Giri, Dharmavṛddha, Sukarmā, Kṣetropekṣa, Arimardana, Śatrughna, Gandhamāda and Pratibāhu. These brothers also had a sister named Sucārā. From Akrūra came two sons, named Devavān and Upadeva. Citraratha had many sons, headed by Pṛthu and Vidūratha, all of whom were known as belonging to the dynasty of Vṛṣṇi.
Essence. Akrūra's twelve brothers and his sister Sucārā are all named; from Akrūra come Devavān and Upadeva. Big devotional families produce many sons, and even the brothers of the most famous one deserve to be remembered.
BG 24.19
Kukura, Bhajamāna, Śuci and Kambalabarhiṣa were the four sons of Andhaka. The son of Kukura was Vahni, and his son was Vilomā.
Essence. Andhaka's sons Kukura, Bhajamāna, Śuci, Kambalabarhiṣa; through Kukura come Vahni and Vilomā. The Yadu-Andhaka-Vṛṣṇi web becomes denser as we approach Kṛṣṇa's immediate generation.
BG 24.20
The son of Vilomā was Kapotaromā, and his son was Anu, whose friend was Tumburu. From Anu came Andhaka; from Andhaka, Dundubhi; and from Dundubhi, Avidyota. From Avidyota came a son named Punarvasu.
Essence. Kapotaromā, Anu (friend of Tumburu), Andhaka, Dundubhi, Avidyota, Punarvasu. Even the friends of figures in lists are remembered — Tumburu, the Gandharva, gets a mention by being Anu's friend.
BG 24.21-23
Punarvasu had a son and a daughter, named Āhuka and Āhukī respectively, and Āhuka had two sons, named Devaka and Ugrasena. Devaka had four sons, named Devavān, Upadeva, Sudeva and Devavardhana, and he also had seven daughters, named Śāntidevā, Upadevā, Śrīdevā, Devarakṣitā, Sahadevā, Devakī and Dhṛtadevā. Dhṛtadevā was the eldest. Vasudeva, the father of Kṛṣṇa, married all these sisters.
Essence. Devaka has four sons and seven daughters — including Devakī. Vasudeva marries all seven sisters. The family of Kṛṣṇa's mother is laid out with precision; even her sisters become wives of Vasudeva.
BG 24.24
Kaṁsa, Sunāmā, Nyagrodha, Kaṅka, Śaṅku, Suhū, Rāṣṭrapāla, Dhṛṣṭi and Tuṣṭimān were the sons of Ugrasena.
Essence. Ugrasena's sons include Kaṁsa, Sunāmā, Nyagrodha, Kaṅka, and others. The very king whose throne Kṛṣṇa would later restore had nine sons, of whom Kaṁsa would be the destructive eldest.
BG 24.25
Kaṁsā, Kaṁsavatī, Kaṅkā, Śūrabhū and Rāṣṭrapālikā were the daughters of Ugrasena. They became the wives of Vasudeva’s younger brothers.
Essence. Ugrasena's daughters — Kaṁsā, Kaṁsavatī, Kaṅkā, Śūrabhū, Rāṣṭrapālikā — become wives of Vasudeva's younger brothers. Intertwined marriages across families build the Yadava web Kṛṣṇa will inhabit.
BG 24.26
The son of Citraratha was Vidūratha, the son of Vidūratha was Śūra, and his son was Bhajamāna. The son of Bhajamāna was Śini, the son of Śini was Bhoja, and the son of Bhoja was Hṛdika.
Essence. Vidūratha, Śūra, Bhajamāna, Śini, Bhoja, Hṛdika — the line moves toward the immediate generation of Kṛṣṇa's grandfather. Each name patiently brings the Lord's family one step closer.
BG 24.27
The three sons of Hṛdika were Devamīḍha, Śatadhanu and Kṛtavarmā. The son of Devamīḍha was Śūra, whose wife was named Māriṣā.
Essence. Hṛdika's sons include Kṛtavarmā, and Devamīḍha's son Śūra has a wife named Māriṣā. The Bhāgavatam now begins naming the grandparents of Kṛṣṇa with intimate detail.
BG 24.28-31
Through Māriṣā, King Śūra begot Vasudeva, Devabhāga, Devaśravā, Ānaka, Sṛñjaya, Śyāmaka, Kaṅka, Śamīka, Vatsaka and Vṛka. These ten sons were spotlessly pious personalities. When Vasudeva was born, the demigods from the heavenly kingdom sounded kettledrums. Therefore Vasudeva, who provided the proper place for the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, was also known as Ānakadundubhi. The five daughters of King Śūra, named Pṛthā, Śrutadevā, Śrutakīrti, Śrutaśravā and Rājādhidevī, were Vasudeva’s sisters. Śūra gave Pṛthā to his friend Kunti, who had no issue, and therefore another name of Pṛthā was Kuntī.
Essence. Śūra and Māriṣā beget ten spotlessly pious sons including Vasudeva — whose birth was greeted by demigod kettledrums (hence Ānakadundubhi). Five daughters too, including Pṛthā, given to childless friend Kunti — and so renamed Kuntī.
BG 24.32
Once when Durvāsā was a guest at the house of Pṛthā’s father, Kunti, Pṛthā satisfied Durvāsā by rendering service. Therefore she received a mystic power by which she could call any demigod. To examine the potency of this mystic power, the pious Kuntī immediately called for the sun-god.
Essence. Pṛthā satisfies Durvāsā and receives a mantra to call any demigod; curious, she 'tests' it by calling Sūrya. Mystic gifts should not be experimentally fired — power once invoked has consequences that pleasantries cannot retract.
BG 24.33
As soon as Kuntī called for the demigod of the sun, he immediately appeared before her, and she was very much surprised. She told the sun-god, “I was simply examining the effectiveness of this mystic power. I am sorry I have called you unnecessarily. Please return and excuse me.”
Essence. Sūrya arrives and Pṛthā tries to send him back. The cosmic order does not have an 'undo' button — once a demigod has been called, the meeting cannot be unfruitful.
BG 24.34
The sun-god said: O beautiful Pṛthā, your meeting with the demigods cannot be fruitless. Therefore, let me place my seed in your womb so that you may bear a son. I shall arrange to keep your virginity intact, since you are still an unmarried girl.
Essence. Sūrya insists on placing his seed and promises to keep her virginity intact. Cosmic encounters with grave consequences sometimes also come with extraordinary protection for the human side — but not without leaving a child.
BG 24.35
After saying this, the sun-god discharged his semen into the womb of Pṛthā and then returned to the celestial kingdom. Immediately thereafter, from Kuntī a child was born, who was like a second sun-god.
Essence. The sun-god discharges seed; immediately a child is born like a second sun. The Lord's arrangements are sometimes shockingly fast — what looked like a curious test becomes a life-altering reality in moments.
BG 24.36
Because Kuntī feared people’s criticisms, with great difficulty she had to give up her affection for her child. Unwillingly, she packed the child in a basket and let it float down the waters of the river. O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, your great-grandfather the pious and chivalrous King Pāṇḍu later married Kuntī.
Essence. Fearing public criticism, Kuntī floats Karṇa down the river. Public opinion can drive even great souls to abandon their own children — and the abandonment then unfolds into all of Mahābhārata's tragedy.
BG 24.37
Vṛddhaśarmā, the King of Karūṣa, married Kuntī’s sister Śrutadevā, and from her womb Dantavakra was born. Having been cursed by the sages headed by Sanaka, Dantavakra had formerly been born as the son of Diti named Hiraṇyākṣa.
Essence. Śrutadevā and Vṛddhaśarmā produce Dantavakra — formerly Hiraṇyākṣa, cursed by Sanaka. Some adversaries of the Lord are reincarnated demons playing out a multi-life karmic arc; their hostility is not random.
BG 24.38
King Dhṛṣṭaketu, the King of Kekaya, married Śrutakīrti, another sister of Kuntī’s. Śrutakīrti had five sons, headed by Santardana.
Essence. Dhṛṣṭaketu of Kekaya marries Śrutakīrti; their five sons headed by Santardana follow. Each Pāṇḍava-aunt produces a branch of cousins; the Lord weaves the Mahābhārata cast through intermarriage long before the war.
BG 24.39
Through the womb of Rājādhidevī, another sister of Kuntī’s, Jayasena begot two sons, named Vinda and Anuvinda. Similarly, the king of the Cedi state married Śrutaśravā. This king’s name was Damaghoṣa.
Essence. Jayasena and Rājādhidevī produce Vinda and Anuvinda; Damaghoṣa of Cedi marries Śrutaśravā. Kings of states surrounding Kṛṣṇa's circle are connected by marriage — and some will side against Him at Kurukṣetra.
BG 24.40
The son of Śrutaśravā was Śiśupāla, whose birth has already been described [in the Seventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam]. Vasudeva’s brother named Devabhāga had two sons born of his wife, Kaṁsā. These two sons were Citraketu and Bṛhadbala.
Essence. Śiśupāla is born of Śrutaśravā — the very child whom Kṛṣṇa will eventually kill. Aunt to Kṛṣṇa's mother, mother to Kṛṣṇa's enemy — the Lord's own family contains the seed of the antagonist.
BG 24.41
Vasudeva’s brother named Devaśravā married Kaṁsavatī, by whom he begot two sons, named Suvīra and Iṣumān. Kaṅka, by his wife Kaṅkā, begot three sons, named Baka, Satyajit and Purujit.
Essence. Devaśravā, Kaṅka — Vasudeva's brothers — each produce children with their wives. Brothers of a major devotional figure are also family men with their own quiet sons.
BG 24.42
King Sṛñjaya, by his wife, Rāṣṭrapālikā, begot sons headed by Vṛṣa and Durmarṣaṇa. King Śyāmaka, by his wife, Śūrabhūmi, begot two sons, named Harikeśa and Hiraṇyākṣa.
Essence. Sṛṣjaya's sons headed by Vṛṣa and Durmarṣaṇa; Śyāmaka's sons Harikeśa and Hiraṇyākṣa. The bigger family swells with names — most of whom will not appear later, but each played a role in maintaining the Yadava strength.
BG 24.43
Thereafter, King Vatsaka, by the womb of his wife, Miśrakeśī, who was an Apsarā, begot sons headed by Vṛka. Vṛka, by his wife, Durvākṣī, begot Takṣa, Puṣkara, Śāla and so on.
Essence. Vatsaka with the Apsarā Miśrakeśī produces Vṛka; Vṛka's wife Durvākṣī gives Takṣa, Puṣkara, Śāla. Mixed marriages with celestial women appear in plain text — and the offspring continue normally.
BG 24.44
From Samīka, by the womb of his wife, Sudāmanī, came Sumitra, Arjunapāla and other sons. King Ānaka, by his wife, Karṇikā, begot two sons, namely Ṛtadhāmā and Jaya.
Essence. Samīka and Sudāmanī, and Ānaka and Karṇikā, produce more sons of the broader Yadu network. Even brothers and uncles of Vasudeva have whole families — Kṛṣṇa enters a richly populated kin-world.
BG 24.45
Devakī, Pauravī, Rohiṇī, Bhadrā, Madirā, Rocanā, Ilā and others were all wives of Ānakadundubhi [Vasudeva]. Among them all, Devakī was the chief.
Essence. Vasudeva's many wives — Devakī, Pauravī, Rohiṇī, Bhadrā, Madirā, Rocanā, Ilā — with Devakī as the chief. Even Vasudeva had multiple wives, and the Bhāgavatam casually names them all without apology.
BG 24.46
Vasudeva, by the womb of his wife Rohiṇī, begot sons such as Bala, Gada, Sāraṇa, Durmada, Vipula, Dhruva, Kṛta and others.
Essence. Through Rohiṇī, Vasudeva fathers Bala (Balarāma), Gada, Sāraṇa, and others. The Lord's elder brother Balarāma is identified as Rohiṇī-nandana — and we should remember the mother by name.
BG 24.47-48
From the womb of Pauravī came twelve sons, including Bhūta, Subhadra, Bhadrabāhu, Durmada and Bhadra. Nanda, Upananda, Kṛtaka, Śūra and others were born from the womb of Madirā. Bhadrā [Kauśalyā] gave birth to only one son, named Keśī.
Essence. Pauravī produces twelve sons; Madirā produces Nanda, Upananda, Kṛtaka, Śūra and others; Bhadrā has only Keśī. Each wife produces a differently shaped family — and one is mentioned for having borne a single son.
BG 24.49
Vasudeva, by another of his wives, whose name was Rocanā, begot Hasta, Hemāṅgada and other sons. And by his wife named Ilā he begot sons headed by Uruvalka, all of whom were chief personalities in the dynasty of Yadu.
Essence. Rocanā produces Hasta, Hemāṅgada and others; Ilā's sons are headed by Uruvalka, all 'chief personalities in the dynasty of Yadu.' Across many wives, Vasudeva's sons collectively form the inner Yadu leadership.
BG 24.50
From the womb of Dhṛtadevā, one of the wives of Ānakadundubhi [Vasudeva], came a son named Vipṛṣṭha. The sons of Śāntidevā, another wife of Vasudeva, were Praśama, Prasita and others.
Essence. Dhṛtadevā bears Vipṛṣṭha; Śāntidevā bears Praśama, Prasita and others. Yadu's leadership has more shoulders than we typically remember; we should not collapse a whole class into a few celebrated names.
BG 24.51
Vasudeva also had a wife named Upadevā, from whom came ten sons, headed by Rājanya, Kalpa and Varṣa. From Śrīdevā, another wife, came six sons, such as Vasu, Haṁsa and Suvaṁśa.
Essence. Upadevā bears ten sons headed by Rājanya; Śrīdevā bears Vasu, Haṁsa, Suvaṁśa. The Bhāgavatam continues patiently — Vasudeva's house is full of children whose names are recorded even if their stories are not.
BG 24.52
By the semen of Vasudeva in the womb of Devarakṣitā, nine sons were born, headed by Gadā. Vasudeva, who was religion personified, also had a wife named Sahadevā, by whose womb he begot eight sons, headed by Śruta and Pravara.
Essence. Devarakṣitā bears nine sons headed by Gadā; Sahadevā bears eight sons headed by Śruta. The patient enumeration leads us right to the verses about Devakī — but takes its time getting there.
BG 24.53-55
The eight sons born of Sahadevā such as Pravara and Śruta, were exact incarnations of the eight Vasus in the heavenly planets. Vasudeva also begot eight highly qualified sons through the womb of Devakī. These included Kīrtimān, Suṣeṇa, Bhadrasena, Ṛju, Sammardana, Bhadra and Saṅkarṣaṇa, the controller and serpent incarnation. The eighth son was the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself — Kṛṣṇa. The highly fortunate Subhadrā, the one daughter, was your grandmother.
Essence. Sahadevā's eight sons are incarnations of the eight Vasus; Devakī's eighth son is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself — Kṛṣṇa. The whole canto has been preparing this single sentence: Kṛṣṇa is not an incarnation; He is the original.
BG 24.56
Whenever the principles of religion deteriorate and the principles of irreligion increase, the supreme controller, the Personality of Godhead Śrī Hari, appears by His own will.
Essence. Whenever dharma deteriorates and irreligion rises, Śrī Hari appears by His own will. This is the principle of incarnation in compact form — not random, not on demand, but tied to the actual condition of dharma.
BG 24.57
O King, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, but for the Lord’s personal desire, there is no cause for His appearance, disappearance or activities. As the Supersoul, He knows everything. Consequently there is no cause that affects Him, not even the results of fruitive activities.
Essence. There is no cause for the Lord's appearance, disappearance, or activities except His own desire. Unlike us, He is not driven by karma, by lack, or by reaction — His movements are pure will from full love.
BG 24.58
The Supreme Personality of Godhead acts through His material energy in the creation, maintenance and annihilation of this cosmic manifestation just to deliver the living entity by His compassion and stop the living entity’s birth, death and duration of materialistic life. Thus He enables the living being to return home, back to Godhead.
Essence. He acts through material energy to deliver living entities from birth, death, and the duration of material life — material creation exists to send us back home. The whole apparatus is a homing system, not a punishment.
BG 24.59
Although the demons who take possession of the government are dressed like men of government, they do not know the duty of the government. Consequently, by the arrangement of God, such demons, who possess great military strength, fight with one another, and thus the great burden of demons on the surface of the earth is reduced. The demons increase their military power by the will of the Supreme, so that their numbers will be diminished and the devotees will have a chance to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Essence. Demons in power dress like statesmen but do not know governance — the Lord uses their internal fights to reduce their burden, giving devotees breathing room. Political chaos at the top is, from the Lord's perspective, partly a clearing operation.
BG 24.60
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, with the cooperation of Saṅkarṣaṇa, Balarāma, performed activities beyond the mental comprehension of even such personalities as Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva. [For instance, Kṛṣṇa arranged the Battle of Kurukṣetra to kill many demons for the relief of the entire world.]
Essence. Kṛṣṇa, with Balarāma's cooperation, performed activities beyond even Brahmā's and Śiva's comprehension. The Lord's pastimes are intentionally beyond our reach to grasp fully — humility about understanding is part of the right response.
BG 24.61
To show causeless mercy to the devotees who would take birth in the future in this Age of Kali, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, acted in such a way that simply by remembering Him one will be freed from all the lamentation and unhappiness of material existence. [In other words, He acted so that all future devotees, by accepting the instructions of Kṛṣṇa consciousness stated in Bhagavad-gītā, could be relieved from the pangs of material existence.]
Essence. To show causeless mercy to future Kali-yuga devotees, Kṛṣṇa acts so that simply remembering Him removes lamentation. The Bhāgavatam was written in part for us — His mercy reached forward in time.
BG 24.62
Simply by receiving the glories of the Lord through purified transcendental ears, the devotees of the Lord are immediately freed from strong material desires and engagement in fruitive activities.
Essence. Aurally receiving the Lord's glories through purified ears immediately frees devotees from material desires. The mechanism is simple and not dependent on intellect — the right kind of hearing is itself liberating.
BG 24.63-64
Assisted by the descendants of Bhoja, Vṛṣṇi, Andhaka, Madhu, Śūrasena, Daśārha, Kuru, Sṛñjaya and Pāṇḍu, Lord Kṛṣṇa performed various activities. By His pleasing smiles, His affectionate behavior, His instructions and His uncommon pastimes like raising Govardhana Hill, the Lord, appearing in His transcendental body, pleased all of human society.
Essence. Assisted by Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, Andhakas, Madhus, Śūrasenas, Daśārhas, Kurus, Sṛṣjayas, and Pāṇḍavas, Kṛṣṇa pleases all human society through smiles, affection, instruction, and uncommon pastimes like Govardhana. He works with help — He invites participation.
BG 24.65
Kṛṣṇa’s face is decorated with ornaments, such as earrings resembling sharks. His ears are beautiful, His cheeks brilliant, and His smiling attractive to everyone. Whoever sees Lord Kṛṣṇa sees a festival. His face and body are fully satisfying for everyone to see, but the devotees are angry at the creator for the disturbance caused by the momentary blinking of their eyes.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa's face is so beautiful that devotees become angry at the creator for the inconvenience of blinking. This particular complaint — that even biological necessity interrupts seeing Him — is its own marker of advanced devotion.
BG 24.66
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, known as līlā-puruṣottama, appeared as the son of Vasudeva but immediately left His father’s home and went to Vṛndāvana to expand His loving relationship with His confidential devotees. In Vṛndāvana the Lord killed many demons, and afterwards He returned to Dvārakā, where according to Vedic principles He married many wives who were the best of women, begot through them hundreds of sons, and performed sacrifices for His own worship to establish the principles of householder life.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa, as līlā-puruṣottama, leaves Vasudeva's house for Vṛndāvana, kills demons, returns to Dvārakā, marries the best of women, and establishes householder principles by His own example. The whole life is the curriculum.
BG 24.67
Thereafter, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa created a misunderstanding between family members just to diminish the burden of the world. Simply by His glance, He annihilated all the demoniac kings on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra and declared victory for Arjuna. Finally, He instructed Uddhava about transcendental life and devotion and then returned to His abode in His original form.
Essence. Kṛṣṇa creates a family misunderstanding to lighten the world, defeats demoniac kings at Kurukṣetra, instructs Uddhava, and returns to His abode. The canto closes with the Lord's whole earthly mission compressed into one verse — He came, lightened, taught, and went home.