Lord Kṛṣṇa Blesses the Liberated Kings

Kṛṣṇa frees Jarāsandha’s imprisoned kings, instructs them, and sends them home with royal gifts.

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

Themes of SB 10.73Rakṣā5 Rāja-dharma4 Dharma4 Kṛpā3 from its story phase

Connected storiesKing VenaLord ParaśurāmaLord Rāmacandra

Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

Chapter summary

This chapter relates how Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, after freeing the kings imprisoned by Jarāsandha, mercifully gave them His audience and bestowed royal gifts upon them.

When Lord Kṛṣṇa freed the 20,800 kings Jarāsandha had imprisoned, they immediately fell to the ground to pay Him obeisances. Then they stood with joined palms and began to pray to Him. Seeing their imprisonment as an act of mercy by the Lord to smash their false pride, the kings prayed only to be granted whatever would facilitate their perpetual remembrance of His lotus feet.

The Lord assured the kings that their prayer would be fulfilled. He instructed them, “Worship Me by performing Vedic sacrifices, and protect your subjects in accordance with the principles of religion. Fixing your minds on Me, beget progeny, and remain always equipoised in happiness and distress. Thus at the end of your lives you will surely attain Me.”

Lord Kṛṣṇa then saw to it that the kings were properly bathed and dressed, and He had Sahadeva offer them flower garlands, sandalwood pulp, fine clothing and other things suitable for kings. After having them adorned with jewels and golden ornaments, He seated them on chariots and sent them off to their respective kingdoms. In accordance with the orders the Lord had given them, they began to carry out their various duties once again.

Lord Kṛṣṇa, Bhīma and Arjuna then departed for Indraprastha, where they met with King Yudhiṣṭhira and related to him everything that had happened.

In this chapter

Who · Kṛṣṇa, Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Arjuna, Jarāsandha, the imprisoned kings, Śiśupāla

The story · Following Uddhava’s advice, Kṛṣṇa went to Indraprastha to support Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya sacrifice and arrange the defeat of Jarāsandha. Kṛṣṇa, Bhīma, and Arjuna approached Jarāsandha disguised as brāhmaṇas, and Kṛṣṇa arranged for Bhīma to kill him. The freed kings bowed to Kṛṣṇa, asked for constant remembrance of Him, and received instructions and royal gifts before returning home. At the Rājasūya sacrifice, the assembly honored Kṛṣṇa with first worship, but Śiśupāla blasphemed Him and was killed. Yudhiṣṭhira completed the sacrifice with generous gifts and joyful festivities.

What it teaches · The liberated kings recognize the danger of pride in temporary power. Kṛṣṇa directs them to worship Him, protect their subjects, and remain steady in happiness and distress.

SB 10.73.10 SB 10.73.21 SB 10.74.39 Read chapter 71 ›

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

King Vena

SB 4.13–14 · King Vena rejects good counsel

What it teaches · A pious ruler supports citizens in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead through their occupations. Royal power does not justify demanding the worship due to the Lord.

King Vena was similarly mad, and when he insulted the brāhmaṇas they killed him by loud incantations of the syllable hum.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 10.73.20 (Text 20)

Haihaya, Nahuṣa, Veṇa, Rāvaṇa, Naraka and many other rulers of demigods, men and demons fell from their elevated positions because of infatuation with material opulence.
In the verse · SB 10.73.20 (Text 20)

Read the story in SB 4.13–14

Lord Paraśurāma

SB 9.15–16 · Paraśurāma and the sinful rulers

What it teaches · Jamadagni stresses tolerance and atonement. The account also describes how pride and sinful conduct among rulers brought destruction upon them.

As described by Śrīdhara Svāmī, because Haihaya stole the desire cow of Lord Paraśurāma’s father, Jamadagni, Paraśurāma killed him and his impudent sons.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 10.73.20 (Text 20)

Read the story in SB 9.15–16

Lord Rāmacandra

SB 9.10–11 · Lord Rāmacandra’s pastimes

What it teaches · Hearing Lord Rāmacandra’s pastimes frees one from envy and the bondage of fruitive activities. The Lord’s gift of enlightenment within the heart is greater than material wealth.

Rāvaṇa was a famous ruler of the Rākṣasas, but out of lust he kidnapped Mother Sītā, and thus her husband, Lord Rāmacandra, killed him.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 10.73.20 (Text 20)

Haihaya, Nahuṣa, Veṇa, Rāvaṇa, Naraka and many other rulers of demigods, men and demons fell from their elevated positions because of infatuation with material opulence.
In the verse · SB 10.73.20 (Text 20)

Read the story in SB 9.10–11

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