SB 1.8.46 (1964)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 46
Vyasadyair iswara iha jnai krishnena adbhutakarmana Prabodhito api itihasair na abudhyta sucharpiiah.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Vyasdyair—by great sages headed by Vyasa, Iswara—the Almighty God, Iha—by the will of, jnai—by the learned, Krisnena—by Krishna Himself, Adbhutakarmana—by one who performs all superhuman work, Prabodhito—being solaced, Api—although, Itihasair—by evidences from the histories, Na—not, Abudhyata—satisfied. Sucharpitah—distressed.
TRANSLATION
King Yudhisthir who was too much aggrieved could not be convinced even though he was instructed by great sages headed by Vyasa and Lord Krishna Himself the performer of superhuman tasks, all with evidences from the histories.
PURPORT
The pious king Yudhisthir was too much mortified on account of mass massacre of human beings in the battle of Kurukshetra specially executed on his account. Duryodhan was there on the throne and he was doing well in the matter of administration and in one sense there was no need of fighting. But on the principle of justice Yudhisthir was to be replaced and the whole clique of politics centered round this point and all the kings and residents of the whole world became involved in this matter of fighting between the rival brothers. Lord Krishna was also there on the side of King Yudhisthir. It is said in the Mahabharata that (Adj. 20 Ch.) sixty four crores of men were killed in eighteen days in the battle of Kurukshetra and some crores of men were missing. Practically this was the grearest battle in the world within 5000 five thousands of years.
This mass killing of human beings simply for the matter of enthroning Maharaj Yudhisthir was too much mortifying and as such he was tried to be convinced with evidences from histories by great sages like Vyasa and the Lord Himself also that the fight was just because the cause was just. But maharaj Yudhisthir could not be satisfied even though he was instructed by the greatest personalities of the time. Krishna is designated herein as the performer of Superhuman actions but in this particular instance He could not convince King Yudhisthir along with Vyasa. Does it mean that He failed to be a Superhurman actor? No certainly not. The interpretation is that the Lord as Iswara or the Super soul both in the heart of King Yudhisthir and Vyasa performed still more superhuman action because the Lord desired like that. As super soul of King Yudhisthir, He did not allow the King to be convinced by the words of Vyasa and others including Himself because He desired that the King should hear instructions from dying Bhisma Deva who was another great devotee of the Lord. The Lord wanted that at the last stage of his material existence the great warrior Bhisma Deva must see the Lord Personally as well as His beloved grandchildren King Yudhisthir etc. now situated on the throne and thus pass away very peacefully. Bhismadeva was not at all satisfied to fight against Pandavas who were his beloved fatherless grandchildren. But the Kshatriyas are also very stern people and therefore he was obliged to take side of the Duryodhana because he was maintained at the expense of Duryodhana. Besides this the Lord also desired that King Yudhisthir should be pacified by the words of Bhisma Deva so that the world may see that Bhismadeva excelled all in knowledge including the Lord Himself.