Stuti: Kunti and Bhishma's Prayers
Two of the Pancha Stutis
Queen Kunti offers her famous prayers to Lord Krishna, revealing deep bhakti philosophy through her sufferings. Grandfather Bhishma, on his bed of arrows, delivers his final glorification of the Lord. These two prayers are among the five most celebrated hymns in the Bhagavatam.
The Five Great Prayers
Within the Srimad Bhagavatam, certain prayers stand out as gems of devotional literature. Tradition celebrates five prayers (Pancha Stuti) as the most exalted:
- Kunti Stuti - The prayers of Queen Kunti (First Skanda)
- Bhishma Stuti - The prayers of Grandfather Bhishma (First Skanda)
- Gajendra Stuti - The prayers of Gajendra the elephant (Eighth Skanda)
- Prahlada Stuti - The prayers of young Prahlada (Seventh Skanda)
- Gopis' Stuti - The prayers of the cowherd women (Tenth Skanda)
In this lesson, we explore the first two - prayers that emerge from very different circumstances yet reveal the same profound truth: suffering can become the gateway to grace.
The Context: Krishna Prepares to Leave
The Kurukshetra war had ended. The Pandavas were victorious but grieving. They had lost their sons, their teachers, and millions of warriors who had been their brothers-in-arms.
Through it all, Lord Krishna had been their guide, protector, and friend. He had served as Arjuna's charioteer, navigated impossible political situations, and ensured their survival against overwhelming odds.
Now Krishna was preparing to return to His kingdom of Dwaraka. The Pandavas and their mother Kunti faced the prospect of life without His immediate presence.
Queen Kunti's Prayers
Kunti, aunt of Krishna and mother of the Pandavas, stepped forward. This was not a young woman speaking - she was elderly, worn by decades of suffering, widowed, exiled, and hunted. Yet through all her trials, Krishna had been her refuge.
Her prayers are remarkable because she asks not for comfort but for continued difficulty:
Prayer for Continued Suffering
"विपदः सन्तु ताः शश्वत्तत्र तत्र जगद्गुरो। भवतो दर्शनं यत्स्यादपुनर्भवदर्शनम्॥"
"Let calamities come again and again, O Lord of the universe, for in those calamities You become visible to us. And seeing You means never being born again in this world."