Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 14

Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water

Devanagari script

क्‍वचित् क्रीडापरिश्रान्तं गोपोत्सङ्गोपबर्हणम् । स्वयं विश्रमयत्यार्यं पादसंवाहनादिभि: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

kvacit krīḍā-pariśrāntaṁ gopotsaṅgopabarhaṇam svayaṁ viśramayaty āryaṁ pāda-saṁvāhanādibhiḥ

Translation

When His elder brother, fatigued from playing, would lie down with His head upon the lap of a cowherd boy, Lord Kṛṣṇa would help Him relax by personally massaging His feet and offering other services.

Synonyms

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa; locative circumstance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), काल/देशवाचक-अव्यय (temporal/locative adverb): ‘sometimes’

• क्रीडा-परिश्रान्तम्: wearied from play
• क्रीडा-परिश्रान्तम्: कर्म (Karma; object-complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक) + परिश्रान्त (कृदन्त; √श्रम् धातु)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (Tatpuruṣa) ‘क्रीडायाः परिश्रान्तः’; कृदन्त-विशेषण (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपद-विशेषण

• गोप-उत्सङ्ग-उपबर्हणम्: (him) as a cushion on the cowherds’ laps
• गोप-उत्सङ्ग-उपबर्हणम्: कर्म (Karma; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोप (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + उपबर्हण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (Tatpuruṣa) ‘गोपानाम् उत्सङ्गः उपबर्हणम्’ (lap of cowherd-boys as a cushion); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• स्वयम्: personally
• स्वयम्: कर्ता (Karta; agent—emphatic)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘oneself/ personally’

• विश्रमयति: makes (him) rest
• विश्रमयति: क्रिया (Kriyā; verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रम् (धातु) + वि- (उपसर्ग) causative (णिच्)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative): ‘causes to rest’

• आर्यम्: the noble one (Krishna)
• आर्यम्: कर्म (Karma; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; संबन्धतः ‘श्रेष्ठम्/पूज्यं’

• पाद-संवाहन-आदिभिः: by foot-massage and the like
• पाद-संवाहन-आदिभिः: करण (Karaṇa; instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + संवाहन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (Tatpuruṣa) ‘पादानां संवाहनम्’ + ‘आदि’; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करणवाचक (instrumental): ‘by means of…’

Purport

The word pāda-saṁvāhanādibhiḥ indicates that Lord Kṛṣṇa would massage Balarāma’s feet, fan Him and bring Him river water to drink.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Gopas (cowherd boys)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the gopas serving Krishna in friendship (sakhya-bhava)?

This verse shows the cowherd boys treating Kṛṣṇa as their dear friend—letting Him rest on their laps and serving Him by massaging His feet—revealing intimate sakhya-bhakti.

Why does Krishna, the Supreme Lord, allow a cowherd boy to massage His feet?

Because in Vraja-līlā Kṛṣṇa accepts the love of His devotees; their pure affection makes Him willingly take the position of being cared for, displaying bhakti’s power over Bhagavān.

How can this teaching be applied in modern devotional life?

Offer simple, personal service with affection—small acts done consistently (seva, care, attentiveness) cultivate closeness to God more than display or formality.