Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 23

Brahmā’s Bewilderment and Kṛṣṇa Becoming the Calves and Cowherd Boys

Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Devanagari script

ततो नृपोन्मर्दनमज्जलेपना- लङ्काररक्षातिलकाशनादिभि: । संलालित: स्वाचरितै: प्रहर्षयन् सायं गतो यामयमेन माधव: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

tato nṛponmardana-majja-lepanā- laṅkāra-rakṣā-tilakāśanādibhiḥ saṁlālitaḥ svācaritaiḥ praharṣayan sāyaṁ gato yāma-yamena mādhavaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, as required according to the scheduled round of His pastimes, Kṛṣṇa returned in the evening, entered the house of each of the cowherd boys, and engaged exactly like the former boys, thus enlivening their mothers with transcendental pleasure. The mothers took care of the boys by massaging them with oil, bathing them, smearing their bodies with sandalwood pulp, decorating them with ornaments, chanting protective mantras, decorating their bodies with tilaka and giving them food. In this way, the mothers served Kṛṣṇa personally.

Synonyms

• tataḥ: then; thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तदर्थ-क्रियाविशेषण (thereupon/then)

• nṛpa-unmardana-majja-lepana-laṅkāra-rakṣā-tilaka-aśana-ādibhiḥ: by (royal) rubbing, bathing, anointing, adorning, protecting, applying tilaka, feeding, etc.
• nṛpa-unmardana-majja-lepana-laṅkāra-rakṣā-tilaka-aśana-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: unmardana + majja + lepana + laṅkāra + rakṣā + tilaka + aśana + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter, collective), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (plural); समाहार-द्वन्द्वः; nṛpa- (प्रातिपदिक) as qualifier ‘of the king’ to the set (i.e., royal)

• saṁlālitaḥ: (he) being fondled/caressed
• saṁlālitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam√lāl (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘having been fondled/caressed’

• sva-ācaritaiḥ: by his own actions/behavior
• sva-ācaritaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + ācarita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (by his own acts/behaviors)

• praharṣayan: delighting (them)
• praharṣayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√hṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘causing delight’

• sāyam: in the evening
• sāyam: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sāyam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), कालवाचक (time adverb: in the evening)

• gataḥ: went
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘gone’

• yāma-yamena: watch by watch; at each period
• yāma-yamena: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāma + yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; तृतीया-एकवचन-रूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial instrumental): ‘at each watch/period’

• mādhavaḥ: Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa)
• mādhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mādhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava)
• Cowherd boys (royal/princely boys of Vraja)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about serving Krishna as a friend (sakhya-bhakti)?

This verse shows the cowherd boys affectionately serving Kṛṣṇa—massaging, bathing, decorating, applying tilaka, and feeding Him—illustrating intimate friendship expressed as loving seva.

Why is Krishna called Mādhava in this verse of Canto 10 Chapter 13?

Mādhava is a name of Kṛṣṇa highlighting His sweetness and divine nature; here it emphasizes that the Supreme Lord is joyfully participating in simple, intimate evening pastimes with His friends in Vraja.

Practical application: how can I apply this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

Offer daily, heartfelt service to Kṛṣṇa—such as simple worship, cleanliness, food offerings, and remembrance—cultivating devotion not as duty alone but as affectionate friendship and joy.