Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 21

Gokula’s Wonder, Kṛṣṇa’s Bhakta-vaśyatā, the Move to Vṛndāvana, and the Slaying of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच गोपवृद्धा महोत्पाताननुभूय बृहद्वने । नन्दादय: समागम्य व्रजकार्यममन्त्रयन् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca gopa-vṛddhā mahotpātān anubhūya bṛhadvane nandādayaḥ samāgamya vraja-kāryam amantrayan

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Then one time, having seen the great disturbances in Bṛhadvana, all the elderly persons among the cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahārāja, assembled and began to consider what to do to stop the continuous disturbing situations in Vraja.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (śrīmān śukaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• gopa-vṛddhāḥ: the elder cowherds
• gopa-vṛddhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopa (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (gopānāṃ vṛddhāḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन

• mahotpātān: great calamities/portents
• mahotpātān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + utpāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (mahān utpātaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), बहुवचन

• anubhūya: having experienced
• anubhūya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu-√bhū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• bṛhad-vane: in the great forest (Bṛhad-vana)
• bṛhad-vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक) + vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (bṛhad vanaṃ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc/7th), एकवचन

• nanda-ādayaḥ: Nanda and others
• nanda-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nanda (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (nandaḥ ādiḥ yeṣām ‘Nanda and others’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom/1st), बहुवचन

• samāgamya: having assembled
• samāgamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-ā-√gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• vraja-kāryam: the affairs of Vraja
• vraja-kāryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vraja (प्रातिपदिक) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (vrajasya kāryam), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन

• amantrayan: consulted/discussed
• amantrayan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mantr (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; नकार-आगम (a- augment)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Nanda Mahārāja
• Elder gopas (cowherd elders)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about omens (utpāta) in Krishna’s Vraja pastimes?

This verse notes that the Vraja elders experienced “great ominous disturbances” and, taking them seriously, assembled to decide protective measures for the welfare of Vraja.

Why did Nanda and the elder gopas gather to deliberate in Canto 10 Chapter 11?

Because they had witnessed alarming portents in Bṛhad-vana, they met to consult on what practical steps were needed to safeguard the community of Vraja.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from the Vraja elders’ response to danger?

Act responsibly and collectively for protection and dharmic welfare—taking warnings seriously, seeking counsel, and making timely decisions while keeping faith in the Lord’s shelter.