Kunti Stuti 1.8.21 Śloka Mananam (kṛṣṇāya vāsudevāya........)

Background and Introduction

The following sloka is actually found in Kunti Stuti 1.8.21 in Bhagavatam. 

 कृष्णाय वासुदेवाय देवकी नन्दनाय च ।

नन्दगोप कुमाराय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः ॥

kṛṣṇāya vāsudevāya devakī-nandanāya ca 

nanda-gopa-kumārāya govindāya namo namaḥ

This sloka known to me since childhood, appeared to my mind early in the morning (2-3AM) with following meaning implied in it (implied meaning in parenthesis)

kṛṣṇāya (asti) vāsudevāya (bhāti) devakī-nandanāya ca (priyam)

nanda-gopa-kumārāya (avatāra tattvam) govindāya namo namaḥ (guru tattvam)

So I decided to capture it and reflect on it a bit more, in this blog post. 

Short Commentary

asti, bhāti, priyam - Svarupa Lakshanam (~ akin to Satyam, JnAnam, Anantam Brahma Tait. Up 2.1.1)

Brahman is to be recognized by following indicators – asti (Satyam) bhāti (JnAnam), Priyam(Anantam/Anandam), as taught in Sruti and Advāita Sampradhāya.

Developing Sraddha in this Svarupa lakshanam and learning to recognize Atma Chaithanyam as that Brahman, (indicated in Sruti), leads to ananya bhakti to Ishwara (vāsudeva). 

Another thought is by holding onto avatāra and guru, we can recognize Ishwara (vāsudeva) as Atma with the Svarupa Lakshanam - asti, bhāti, priyam. 

From another perspective, the sloka indicates that Ishwara = Guru = Self (Atman)

All this discussion brings to my mind, the sloka by Sri Sureshwaracharya (mānasollāsa)

iśvaro guru ātmeti mūrti bheḍa vibhāgine vyōmavat vyāpya dehāya dakśināmurtaye namaha

Notes: 

asti - Existence - இருப்பு  

bhāti - Consciousness - உணர்வு  

priyam - Bliss/Prema Svarupam  - அன்பு / ஆனந்தம் 

avatāra tattvam & guru tattvam are hinted at 2nd line. 

Sastra, Samanvayam is given below : - 

1 

Here kṛṣṇā is Asti - Existence - இருப்பு

The darkness (i.e. kṛṣṇā) of the vast expanse of Pure Existence, implies Nirguna, Nirvisesa Brahman..... Here "Satyam Brahma" - Svarūpa Lakshana is implied. 

-  tama āsīt támasā gūháḷam i.e. At first there was only darkness wrapped in darkness" - Nāsadīya Suktam Rig Veda (10:129) (here the darkness in the Suktam indicates Brahman)

- IV-iii-31: When there is something else, as it were, then one can see something... BrihadAranyaka Up

- IV-v-15: Because when there is duality, as it were, then one sees something.... (But) when to the knower of Brahman everything has become the Self, then what should one see... BrihadAranyaka Up

 

2

vāsudevāya – Jnāna Svarūpa - Consciousness - உணர்வு 

- sarva bhūta nivāsōsi vāsudeva namostute - He resides in All as Atma chaithanyam. 

- vāsudeva tattvam is Atma chaithanya tattvam (See Bhag  sloka below)

jñānaṁ viśuddhaṁ paramārtham ekam anantaraṁ tv abahir brahma satyam

pratyak praśāntaṁ bhagavac-chabda-saṁjñaṁ yad vāsudevaṁ kavayo vadanti – 5.12.11 (Bhāgavatam)

Atma Jnanam alone is Pure, absolutely Real, without difference, devoid of inside or outside ness. Complete, Direct (Self-evident as I am), unchangeable, designated by the appellation as Bhagavat (Ishwara). The Sages (Kavih) called this Atma Jnāna Svarupam as Vasudeva - 5.12.11 (Bhag)

https://studylearningcircle.blogspot.com/2019/11/essential-teachings-of-sri-bharata-muni.html

3

devakī-nandanāya ca  - Priyam/Ananda Svarūpa

As revealed to divine couple at that divine midnight :- 

kevalānubhavānanda- svarūpaḥ sarva-buddhi-dṛk 10.3.13 (Bhāgavatam)

https://studylearningcircle.blogspot.com/2019/10/earliest-benefactors-of-sri-krishnas.html

 
4

nanda-gopa-kumārāya - avatāra tattvam 

-         lokavattu lila kaivalyam II.1.33 (Brahmasutra)

            (Brahman's creative activity) is mere sport, such as is seen in the world (or ordinary life)

-         IV-iii-14: 'All see his sport, but none sees him'. BrihadAranyaka

-         Gita Pramanam

ajo’pi sannavyayātmā bhootānām eeshwaro’pi san

prakritim swām adhishthāya sambhavāmyātmamāyayā - Gita 4. 6. 

Though I am unborn and of imperishable nature, and though I am the Lord of all beings, yet, ruling over My own Nature, I am born by My own Maya

 5

govindāya namo namaḥ - Guru Tattvam

-         Go - Cattle (i.e. Jeeva) and He is Govinda because he is our leader/Guru - V.S. Bhasyam (Sri Bhagavatpaada)

-         Go - Upanisad (as cow) and He is the nourisher of the Jeevas (by milking the Sruti). 

sarvopanishado gāvo dogdhā gopālanandanah;

pārtho vatsah sudheer bhoktā dugdham geetāmritam mahat.

All the Upanishads are the cows; the milker is Krishna; the cowherd boy, Partha (Arjuna), is the calf; men of purified intellect are the drinkers; the milk is the great nectar of the Gita.