Shreemad Bhagavat Mahapuran- Canto: 10: Chapters: 84-85
Shukdevji tells Parikshit that one day Bhagwan Shree Krishna and Balaramji went to offer their morning obeisances to Their parents. Vasudev had heard the glories of Krishna from great sages and had witnessed His divine and majestic deeds. As a result, he had become firmly convinced that They were not ordinary men, but Supreme God Himself.
Considering Bhagwan's Yogmaya to be inconceivable and His pastimes to be limitless, Vasudev repeatedly glorified Him. Taking shelter of Him, he prayed that Krishna would destroy his bodily identification, attachment and fear of material existence.
Hearing Vasudev's prayers, Bhagwan Shree Krishna smiled and replied with great humility, "Father, We are indeed your sons, and the spiritual wisdom you have spoken is entirely true." Confirming Vasudev's understanding, Shree Krishna explained that from the highest spiritual vision, "What I am, all beings are," and therefore the entire moving and non-moving universe should be understood as Brahman.
Devakiji was sitting there and had already been astonished to hear that Shree Krishna and Balaramji had once brought back Their Guru Sandipani Muni's dead son from the abode of Yamaraj. At that moment, she remembered her own six sons, whom Kans had killed immediately after their birth. The memory overwhelmed her heart, and tears streamed from her eyes.
Devakiji said, "O Ram, delight of all people! O Krishna, Lord of the great Yogeshwars! I know that You both are Narayan, the Supreme Person and the Lord of even the Prajapatis. I have heard that to offer Gurudakshina to Your Guru Sandipani Muni, You brought back his dead son from Yampuri. Therefore, please fulfil my desire today as well. I wish to see my six sons, whom Kans murdered. Let me behold them once with my own eyes."
Hearing Mother Devaki's prayer, Bhagwan Shree Krishna and Balaramji, by the power of Yogmaya, went to Sutal Lok, where Devaki's six sons were residing.
When the great Daitya King Bali saw Bhagwan enter his realm, he was overwhelmed with joy. Immediately, he rose with his family and offered full prostrated obeisances at the feet of Shree Krishna and Balaramji.
He seated Them on exalted seats, washed Their lotus feet and placed that sacred charanamrit upon his own head and the heads of his family members. Then he worshipped and glorified Bhagwan with various offerings.
Bhagwan Shree Krishna said to Bali that during the reign of the Svayambhuva Manu, six sons had been born to Prajapati Marichi and his wife Urna. They were all celestial beings. Once, seeing Brahma become attracted to his own daughter, they had mocked him. Because of this offence, Brahma cursed them.
As a result of that curse, they were later born as the sons of Hiranyakashipu in an Asuric lineage. Thereafter, Yogmaya transferred them to Devaki's womb, and Kans killed all six of them immediately after their birth.
Bhagwan explained that Mother Devaki remained deeply grief-stricken because of the separation from her sons. Therefore, He had come to take them back to her. Afterwards, they would become free from their curse and return to their divine abode.
The names of the six sons were Smar, Udgith, Parishvang, Patang, Kshudrabhrit and Ghrini. By Bhagwan's grace, they were about to attain liberation.
Bhagwan Shree Krishna then brought the six sons from Bali and presented them to Mother Devaki. Seeing her dead sons before her once again, Devaki's heart overflowed with maternal affection. Again and again, she took them onto her lap, embraced them and lovingly smelled their heads.
By the touch of Bhagwan Shree Krishna, the six sons attained self-realisation and recognised their true identities. They then offered obeisances to Bhagwan Shree Krishna, Balaramji, Mother Devaki and Father Vasudev, and before everyone's eyes, became free from their curse and departed for the celestial realms.
Seeing her dead sons return and then ascend to the divine world, Devaki was filled with wonder and realised that all this was simply another of Bhagwan Shree Krishna's extraordinary divine pastimes.
Arjun's Abduction of Subhadra
King Parikshit asks Shukdevji, "Bhagwan, how did my grandfather Arjun marry Subhadra, the sister of Bhagwan Shree Krishna and Balaramji and my grandmother?"
Shukdevji replies that once, while travelling on pilgrimage, Arjun arrived at Prabhas Kshetra. There he learned that Balaramji wished to marry Subhadra to Duryodhan, although Shree Krishna and Vasudev did not approve of the proposal.
Hearing this, Arjun's heart became filled with the desire to marry Subhadra. Disguising himself as a tridandi Vaishnav ascetic, he travelled to Dwarka and remained there during the four months of the rainy season. The citizens and Balaramji honoured him greatly, never realising that he was actually Arjun.
One day, Balaramji invited him as a guest and brought him to His home. With great reverence, He served him food, which Arjun accepted with affection.
During the meal, Arjun saw the exquisitely beautiful and marriageable Subhadra. Her incomparable beauty captivated his heart. Overwhelmed with love, he immediately resolved to make her his wife.
At the same time, seeing Arjun's appearance, personality and heroism, Subhadra too became deeply impressed. In her heart, she accepted him as her husband and silently surrendered herself to him.
After this, Arjun waited patiently for an opportunity.
One day, Subhadra rode out of the fortress of Dwarka in a chariot to visit the temples of the Deities. At that very moment, with the permission of Devaki, Vasudev and Shree Krishna, Arjun carried her away.
Mounting his chariot, the heroic Arjun lifted his bow and drove away the soldiers who attempted to stop him. Subhadra's relatives cried out in distress, while Arjun departed with her.
When Balaramji heard the news, He became extremely angry. However, Shree Krishna and the other family members pacified Him with great effort. Eventually, Balaramji became pleased and accepted the marriage, sending many valuable gifts as dowry to Arjun and Subhadra.
The Story of King Bahulashva of Mithila and the Brahmin Shrutadev
In the city of Mithila lived a householder Brahmin named Shrutadev, who was an exalted devotee of Bhagwan Shree Krishna. Through devotion alone, he had attained complete satisfaction, peace, knowledge and detachment.
Though a householder, he made no effort to accumulate wealth or pursue material gain. Whatever necessities for daily life came to him by destiny, he accepted with complete contentment. Living a simple, detached, and satisfied life, he faithfully fulfilled his duties and dedicated his entire existence to the devotion to Bhagwan Shree Krishna.
The king of that land was equally devoted. His name was Bahulashva, and he possessed not the slightest trace of pride. Both Shrutadev and Bahulashva were dear devotees of Bhagwan Shree Krishna.
Once, desiring to shower His mercy upon these two devotees, Bhagwan Shree Krishna had Daruk prepare His chariot and departed from Dwarka for Videha, accompanied by Narad, Vyas, Parashuram, Atri, Vamadev, Maitreya, Chyavan and many other great sages.
Wherever Bhagwan travelled, the people of towns and villages rushed forward carrying offerings for His worship. Merely by receiving His darshan, their ignorance began to disappear, and they attained spiritual upliftment and knowledge of the Absolute Truth.
Finally, Bhagwan Shree Krishna reached Videha. Hearing of His arrival, the citizens and villagers joyfully came forward with various offerings to welcome Him.
King Bahulashva and the Brahmin Shrutadev both understood that Bhagwan Shree Krishna had come especially to bless them. Falling at His feet, they folded their hands and invited Bhagwan and the sages accompanying Him to accept hospitality in their respective homes.
Bhagwan Shree Krishna accepted the requests of both devotees. To please them equally, He expanded Himself through His Yogmaya into two separate forms and simultaneously visited both Bahulashva's palace and Shrutadev's humble home. Yet each devotee felt that Bhagwan had come exclusively to him.
When King Bahulashva saw that Bhagwan Shree Krishna and the great sages had entered his home, he became overwhelmed with love and devotion. He worshipped Bhagwan and the sages in accordance with proper Vedic rites.
After the meal, Bahulashva placed Bhagwan Shree Krishna's feet upon his lap and lovingly massaged them while offering prayers. Pleased by his devotion, Shree Krishna remained in Mithila for some time, bringing spiritual welfare to its people.
Just as King Bahulashva was overwhelmed with joy, so too was the poor Brahmin Shrutadev. Seeing Bhagwan and the sages arrive at his home, he became beside himself with love and happiness. After offering obeisances to Bhagwan, he became so ecstatic that he began dancing, tossing his garments into the air.
He spread simple mats, wooden seats and kusha grass seats for Bhagwan Shree Krishna and the sages and, together with his wife, washed their feet. Sprinkling the sacred charanamrit upon his home and family, he considered himself supremely blessed.
According to his means, he worshipped Bhagwan and the sages with simple offerings of fruits, fragrant water, tulsi leaves, kusha grass, lotuses, scented clay and pure vegetarian food.
Inwardly, Shrutadev marvelled, "I am merely an unfortunate householder, fallen into the dark well of worldly life. How then have Bhagwan Shree Krishna, who sanctifies all holy places, and these great sages come to bless me with their association?"
He prayed, "We are Your servants. Please command us, how may we serve You? Merely by Your darshan, all the sufferings of living beings come to an end."
Hearing Shrutadev's prayer, Bhagwan Shree Krishna lovingly took his hand and said that these great sages had come especially to bestow mercy upon him. Saintly souls sanctify people and holy places merely by the dust of their feet and by their very glance.
Those who see worship only in Deity forms but disregard saintly devotees fail to understand the true spiritual principle. Therefore, Bhagwan instructed Shrutadev to worship these Brahmarishis with reverence, considering them to be His own manifestations. By serving them, one automatically worships Bhagwan Himself.
Upon receiving Bhagwan's instruction, Shrutadev worshipped Bhagwan Shree Krishna and the great sages, understanding that they were one in spiritual essence. By their mercy, he attained the realisation of Bhagwan's true nature. King Bahulashva attained the same supreme destination.
After spending some time in Mithila and instructing both devotees in the path of saintliness, Bhagwan returned to Dwarka.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Shreemad Bhagavat Katha [Hindi]- 19.06.2026
