Srimad Bhagavatam – 10.76.25 | HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj | ISKCON Japan | October 31, 2025
jaya rādhā-mādhava kuñja-vihārī
gopījana-vallabha giri-vara-dhārī
yaśodā-nandana vraja-jana-rañjana
yamunā-tīra-vana-cārī
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare
Jaya Prabhupāda Jaya Prabhupāda
Prabhupāda Jaya Prabhupāda
Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevaya
nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale
śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine
namas te sārasvate deve gaura-vāṇī-pracāriṇe
nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe
jaya śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare
Reading from Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 76 Verse 25.
ŚB 10.76.25
śālvānīkapa-śastraughair
vṛṣṇi-vīrā bhṛśārditāḥ
na tatyajū raṇaṁ svaṁ svaṁ
loka-dvaya-jigīṣavaḥ
Synonyms
śālva — of Śālva; anīka-pa — of the leaders of the army; śastra — of weapons; oghaiḥ — by floods; vṛṣṇi-vīrāḥ — the heroes of the Vṛṣṇi clan; bhṛśa — extremely; arditāḥ — pained; na tatyajuḥ — they did not abandon; raṇam — the places on the battlefield; svam svam — each their own; loka — the worlds; dvaya — two; jigīṣavaḥ — wishing to conquer.
Translation
Because the heroes of the Vṛṣṇi clan were eager for victory in this world and the next, they did not abandon their assigned posts on the battlefield, even though the downpour of weapons hurled by Śālva’s commanders tormented them.
Purport
Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “The heroes of the Yadu dynasty were determined to either die on the battlefield or gain victory. They were confident of the fact that if they would die in the fighting they would attain a heavenly planet, and if they would come out victorious they would enjoy the world.”
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj:
So, this is a description of the Vrishni fighters or warriors. And though they were heavily attacked by Salva’s soldiers, they never gave up fighting. So the reason, they never gave up fighting is mentioned in the last verse. And that’s what Prabhupada is explaining in the purport. So, they desired victory in the two planets. So to speak, literally [Laughs], loka-dvaya [Laughs]. So, what this means is that, they get victory in this life, and they get svarga loka in next life. In other words, the loka-dvaya – two worlds, were meant to, meaning, living now and then getting svarga loka in their next life. So, this is a common phrase used even in Bhagavad Gita. So, we see that Arjuna is talking about what’s the use of having victory in this life, what’s the use of svarga loka in next life [Laughs].
So, from the point of view of a detached person or a Jnani, that’s so, what is the use of any wealth or power in this life? What is the use of svarga loka? That’s the, intelligent person will come to that conclusion. So, we see in Chapter 2 of Bhagavad Gita, Krishna talks about the sthita-prajna, one who is situated in knowledge. So, that person, if he loses something, he does not lament. If he gains something, he does not rejoice. And, of course, later in the Bhagavad Gita it says, a person who has equal vision, he considers a brahmana and a dog-eater and an elephant and a dog as all equal. So, these are the natural characteristics of a person, who is firmly fixed in sattva or spiritually advanced.
However, the kshatriyas, the vaishyas and the sudras cannot artificially see in this way, because they are very materially attached. So the kshatriya has prominence of rajo-guna and in rajo-guna, one desires material enjoyment. Kshatriya also has Isvara-bhava, he likes to control other people. And another characteristic, he likes fighting. And therefore it’s natural that the kshatriya would like to be victorious in battle in this life and enjoy the results. So, a kshatriya is praised for such qualities and for such desires. However, kshatriya also has some mixture of sattva, so he also believes in scriptures. And the scriptures tell us that if you do your duties properly, you go to svarga loka. So, one does his duty of fighting properly, then even if he loses, he goes to svarga loka. So, in any case, the kshatriya should fight. If he wins the battle, he enjoys in this lifetime, he goes to svarga. If he loses in this life, he still goes to svarga [Laughs]. So, in this way, the kshatriya is encouraged to fight because he gets good rewards in this life and next life, in the two worlds. Of course, normally in fighting etc, one has to follow the proper rules. If one doesn’t follow the rules, then this svarga loka in next life is not guaranteed.
So, though, these are the rules for the kshatriya, the Vrishnis and Arjuna and others are not real kshatriyas, because they are transcendental. They are spiritual devotees, beyond the gunas. But, they often act according to the rules of this world. So, therefore, the Vrshnis and Krishna Himself, when He is in Dvaraka, they act according to the rules of kshatriyas. And, by doing so, they are not bound up into the material world with karma. And, the reason is, they don’t have any material desire. So, even Arjuna is advised to carry out his duty as a kshatriya, but then he is also told that you do it nishkama, with no material desires. And, if you do so, you don’t accrue karma. So, in Bhagavad Gita, when Krishna encourages the karma yoga and encourages Arjuna to be a warrior, he also encourages him to do it, without material desire. So, of course, Krishna and the Vrishnis are not even doing sadhana, they are already perfect [Laughs]. They don’t have ahankara, they don’t have material desire. But, additionally, they all have prema. So, they are acting as kshatriyas, one, to set a nice example for people in the world. And, secondly, they are acting to please Krishna. So, in Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna agrees, I will follow your order and that’s what makes Arjuna blissful, that’s his service. So, the Vrishnis and the Pandavas get great bliss in assisting Krishna in his work in this material world to kill demons. So though, this last line says they desire victory in this life and next lifetime, it’s actually not true for the Vrshnis. However, they are acting like ideal kshatriyas in this material world. So, in other words, the Vrishnis are just participating in Krishna’s pastimes. And as part of those pastimes, they act as kshatriyas.
When Krishna was in Vrindavana, He was acting as a vaishya. In either case, whether He acts as a vaishya or kshatriya, Krishna also is not bound by these rules. However, when Krishna performs pastimes, He performs pastimes in a certain place, in a certain context. So, this is the spiritual world, and He is in Goloka and He is surrounded by trees and forests and fields and cows [Laughs]. Or, if He is in Dvaraka in the spiritual world, then He is in the palace [Laughs]. So, when Krishna performs pastimes, He does so in a certain place, and then He is asked to act in a certain way. So, He chooses to act, generally according to varnasrama, so he is a vaishya or kshatriya or whatever. So, for pastimes, he follows the rules of the particular varna [Laughs]. But, He’s also free to break any of the rules and if He breaks the rules, He still has no fault [Laughs].
So, therefore, we can’t criticize Krishna if He doesn’t follow the rules of varnasrama also. And, the prime example of that is Krishna with the Gopis [Laughs]. Yeah, so, from normal varnasrama point of view, He’s breaking all the rules [Laughs]. In India, there was one school, so they were a little enthusiastic, so they said, okay, we’ll teach the children Krishna book [Laughs]. And then the teacher came back, no, I can’t teach this, because Krishna is stealing the clothes [Laughs] of the young Gopis [Laughs]. I can’t teach this anymore [Laughs]. So, for people in the material world, yes, Krishna gets criticized, because He does not always follow the rules [Laughs]. And then of course, He is teaching by that, that He is beyond the rules.
So, the highest rule in the spiritual world is to respond to the devotees. And, if it breaks the rules, not a problem. At the same time, Krishna also says in Bhagavad Gita, I also follow rules. Therefore, Krishna can also follow the rules perfectly as He does as Ramachandra. But the devotees also understand that when Krishna is following all these rules, it is part of his pastimes. And where it encourages rasa and bliss in the pastimes, He follows, and where it doesn’t, then He breaks the rule. So, in this case, the Vrishnis are fighting, and Krishna also begins to fight against Salva, and it all increases virya rasa and the joy of the devotees. So, according to the situation then, Krishna acts in different ways, but He is never bound by any rule. But, as Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, He says, I am in my devotee, devotee is in me. My devotees never vanquished, I always protect my devotee. So, that’s the final rule. So, to follow that rule, sometimes he may break the rules [Laughs]. And thus, He will steal butter, and He will lie and do only things with mother Yasoda [Laughs], because of rasa [Laughs].
Okay, Hare Krsna !
Q & A:
1.) Even Krishna breaks the rule in the Kurukshetra, he promises, ‘I am not involve in the war’.
So, He protects His devotees. So, that’s a higher principle [Laughs].
Devotee: Simultaneously also pleasing the Bhishmadeva right. Not only, only, you know, this is the, simultaneously, Krishna protects the Arjuna, but simultaneously fighting with the Bhishma and also pleasing the Bhishma.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Yeah, He also does that [Laughs].
Devotee: So, in that situation, then other devotee they are also, Krishna break the rules of fighting other devotees also they are pleasing and devotee, you know, observe this kind Krishna breaks the rules.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Devotees can appreciate that, demons don’t [Laughs]. For Bhishma, it increased his virya-rasa [Laughs].
Devotee: But, simultaneously, his primary rasa is the Dasya rasa?
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Oh, yeah. Yeah.
2.) So what happened, like, Duryodhana, Karna, they break the rule. They also break the rules, right, in fighting. So, that does not affect them?
So, of course, the real kshatriya will follow the rules, not break the rules. But, in Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says, better to follow the rules, even if you cannot follow perfectly, than do something else [Laughs]. So, if one is following the rules commonly but also breaks the rules, then he still gets some reward, if he is not even a kshatriya, acting as a kshatriya, like a sudra in the first canto of Bhagavatam where he is killing the, beating the legs [Laughs] of the bull, etc. Then, of course, he gets all sinful reactions.
3.) Hare Krishna Maharaj. Thank you for the wonderful class. I have also similar question. We see, you mentioned that the Vrishnis and Pandavas, essentially, they had prema. So, it means that they are pure devotees of Krishna. And, similar to Bhishmadeva also, he is also a pure devotee. But, my confusion is, we see that Bhishmadeva, he wanted to kill Arjuna. So, how a pure devotee can attempt to kill another pure devotee? That is first question. And, we see that both of them are pure devotees, but Krishna is favouring Arjuna over Bhishmadeva. And, Krishna also neglect his vows and, you know, take the wheels of the ratha and attack Bhishmadeva. So, how to understand this pastime?
In the spiritual world, we have virya rasa in Vrindavana. And, the examples are given. We have cowherd boys and Krishna and they have wrestling matches and they fight [Laughs]. So, they may fight very fiercely because they have to win [Laughs]. So, the cowherd boys may be fighting each other or they may be fighting Krishna. But, of course, it’s all based upon their prema.
So, in the pastimes on earth, then we find that Bhishma is on the other side, the enemy side, but he’s actually a great devotee. So, he has to fight against the Pandavas and ultimately, against Krishna [Laughs]. But, it’s also something like those fights in the spiritual world [Laughs]. Bhishma recognizes Krishna as the Supreme Lord. He’s not like Duryodhana and others. So, therefore, his fighting is much different from the fighting of the other Kauravas. So, there is no hatred involved, real hatred, material hatred involved. So, it’s described there that the arrows they hit the body, they’re like love bites or something like that [Laughs]. They’re not painful at all, they cause bliss [Laughs].
4.) Thank you Maharaj. I got another question [Laughs]. So you mentioned that Bhishmadeva, he understood that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but his ishta devata was not Krishna. I think it was Narayana or some other form. So how to understand that?
Well, we also see in Nanda, he is also worshiping Vishnu [Laughs]. He has a Vishnu temple in his village [Laughs]. So, as part of lila, they may be worshipping one deity, but then again it’s ultimately in their, their actual devotion is to Krishna.
Devotee: Thank you Maharaj. Hare Krishna.
5.) Bhishma recognizes Krishna as the Supreme Lord. But the cowherd boys, they don’t recognize the Krishna as the Supreme Lord. Just a friend.
Yeah, so, Bhishma and the Vrishnis all recognize Krishna as Supreme Lord, but they still have prema. The people of Vrindavana have prema, they don’t see Krishna as God. But they also do not disrespect Krishna like a demon who doesn’t see Krishna as God [Laughs]. In other words, the people of Vrindavana don’t see Krishna as God, but they are completely surrendered to Him out of great devotion.
And people in material world do not see Krishna as God, but there is no surrender, and quite the opposite, they are opposed to the Supreme Lord [Laughs]. So, they see Krishna as an ordinary human being. Of course, we can say the people of Vrindavana also see Krishna as an ordinary human being [Laughs]. But it is quite different, because the people of Vrindavana see Krishna with prema. People of material world see Krishna as a material person, and they don’t have any relationship with Him at all [Laughs]. Rather they are thinking of their own enjoyment.
Devotee: In other words, Materialistic people they are not surrendered and they think of their own pleasure. Vrajavasis, they are completely surrendered and they never think about their pleasure, they think of Krishna’s pleasure.
HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj: Yeah.
Okay, Hare Krsna !
Devotees: Grantharaj Srimad Bhagavatam ki jai!!! HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj ki jai!!! Srila Prabhupada ki jai!!!